Wireless Theatre Company, Jan-March 2012
Set in 1837, The Strange Case of Springheel'd Jack had strong
echoes of The Hound of the Baskervilles, with Londoners being terrorized by a monstrous apparition, variously described
as fire-breathing, ten feet tall and with a propensity for attacking victims late at night.
Enter trusty Inspector Jonah Smith (Christopher Finney), who doggedly investigated
the case, despite numerous attempts to stop him. Local squire Septimus Wayland (Julian Glover), was a particular thorn in
Smith's side, subjecting him to one particularly dastardly punishment. However Smith uncovered the mystery, aided and abetted
by Charlotte Fitzrandolph (Jessica Dennis), who discovered to her cost that the mystery involved her father.
Robert Valentine and Gareth Parker's tale unfolded as a lip-smacking melodrama, complete
with extreme emotions and a truly hissable villain and his acolytes including Chough (Jack Bowman). The music by Francesco
Quadraruopolo added a sinister feel to the proceedings. The three-part drama tied most of the loose ends of the plot up, but
left the possibility for future episodes: Springheel'd Jack was still at large. I for one cannot wait till they appear.
