The Theatre of Dreams

"You will not harm it, it's dead already."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: January 2011

Series: Jago & Litefoot 2.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

"Roll up gentlemen and ladies, roll up! Welcome to Deuteronomy's Theatre De Fantasie, the show where your dreams come true!"

Henry Gordon Jago believes he has made a killer booking for the New Regency Theatre. Unfortunately, he is absolutely correct...

Verdict

The Theatre of Dreams was an outstanding story to continue my way through the second series of Jago & Litefoot! This truly was brilliant and must go down as the best in the spinoff range yet, definitely the best of this series! Right from the off I felt slightly disappointed that there was no immediate follow up to the cliffhanger at the end of The Necropolis Express with Gabriel Sanders making an emphatic return to confront Ellie. He didn't really play much of a role in this episode which is something I didn't expect, at least until the end that was, but this took a welcomed break from the ongoing story arc with a wonderful adventure in the mind! I thought this was so unique and I am a sucker for new which this certainly felt like. Deuteronomy was a sublime villain and I really enjoyed how she was able to offer both Jago and Litefoot what they dreamt of. For Litefoot, that was curing Ellie which I thought was really nice, and for Jago that was the New Regency Theatre bringing in lots of money and acclaim for their performances. I thought the cheeky reference to The Talons of Weng-Chiang by Litefoot regarding the history of Jago's acts was wonderful as he just couldn't see that he had been given what he wanted in very suspicious circumstances. It was too convenient that Deuteronomy had offered Jago what he dreamt of most, and then all of a sudden he had it! The passage of time in the story was really intriguing and I liked that Litefoot was aware of it and was able to help Jago that everything was far from it appeared. It was fun to have them playing the game of Deuteronomy and without actually doing an awful lot, she was firmly in control. Playing around with the concept of them never actually leaving the stage was excellent and I absolutely loved how uncomfortable and strange the background applause and laughter was. That was so good for the audio format and really added a lot, especially when Jago and Litefoot seemed oblivious to it happening at the start. The fun twist later on with the potential of them still being in the performance was great stuff. I like the importance being placed on Ellie with the looming threat of Sanders, and her desire for blood was uneasy. She even knew that Litefoot had shaved that morning! Black pudding just wasn't cutting it so her escape and roaming around London was exciting for what is to come for her. I think she is going to play an important role in the finale. I loved how the resolution for Jago and Litefoot was literally breaking the fourth wall as not only did that fit in with the plot, it worked perfectly with the listener experience too. Litefoot really taking it to Deuteronomy was fantastic as she didn't even knew what country she was from, letting it revealed that she was part of the game too. The way the episode shifted at the end with Sanders arriving at the Red Tavern to buy Jago and Litefoot a pint was brilliant and there was an immediate shift in tone and atmosphere when he arrived. He was not done with them yet and that sets us up for what looks to be a fantastic finale! But for now, this was just marvellous. 

Rating: 10/10