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undone
series 2 part 2
by ben moor
'stranger is gooder'
This is a continuation of Page 1 of Undone Series 2.
WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD
Epsiode 4 - Unaccustomed
Carlo tells a story of Rumour Torture, a
very nice suit and heights he’d go to for his magazine.
Starring Duncan Wisbey, Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Rae Baker, Jot Davies,
Kevin Eldon
It’s always nice to shake a format up a little. Undone is definitely
Edna’s story and she tells it very well, but the narration technique
stops us seeing things from another character’s perspective. Carlo
makes a perfect substitute in this episode, getting totally caught up
in Edna’s adventure and turning into a James Bond figure. He gets a new
suit, is given a mission, meets a beautiful woman, has an exquisite
meal, and it all climaxes at the top of a skyscraper. We recorded the
office backroom in a bathroom (the acoustics were excellent) and took
the cast to a roof in Bloomsbury for the climactic scene on the Bell
Handle. Again this was
blocked for real with various actors in various positions around the
roof. We didn’t do the fall for real though.
Jot Davies was great as the Faceless Bureaucrat – you could really
believe he needed to know those blind items - and made an appropriately
gloomy goth doctor. We were thrilled that Rae Baker took time out from
Dirty Dancing to play Undone Daphne, and Kevin’s Prince and Alex’s Edna
were great as ever. But big kudos go to Duncan. His lovely tone and
sweet giggles were givens, but he told the story so nicely too. We were
going to put Carlo in a coma for an episode or two, but he’s just too
good to lose. Still, Edna’s guilt for having got Carlo involved sets us
up for the next couple of episodes. Oh, and my favourite comic book
shop Gosh! makes an appearance in this one; it’s opposite the British
Museum and it's smashing!
First broadcast BBC 7 10th February 2008
Episode 5 - Unwelcome
A trip home to Towcester and her Mum
should give Edna a break. But there’s a fete to organise and Tankerton
has a mission of his own.
Starring Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Duncan Wisbey and Emma Kennedy.
The first episode set outside of London or its parallel cities. Edna
had been having a hard time lately and it’s been six months since she
moved away from Towcester so it was time to give her a welcome home.
Things don’t quite turn out that way though. Tankerton is still after
the pieces of the Prince’s gem and can’t understand why Edna doesn’t
share his keenness to fulfil the mission. The pace is deliberately
slower here, there are flashbacks, moments when Edna is alone again for
a while. We recorded virtually all of it outside in the sunshine of a
lovely July afternoon; the tree scene at the end of the garden.
Emma Kennedy’s Rosie returning was always going to happen in series 2,
but rather than her coming back to London having Edna go home to see
her served the story better. She has more secrets to tell Edna, but the
details given here and the revelation about Edna’s powers come at a
good moment for the overall story. And with the final piece of the gem
being discovered this sets up the final episode quite nicely. I was
pleased with the way this script mixed the monologue sections with the
action, the flashbacks and the arc story – something I don’t always
feel I do successfully. We had a lot of fun recording this one (I think
it was our first day of production) and Alex played the young Edna
beautifully, the tired Edna cleverly, and the reveals towards the end,
note-perfect. I’m sorry if I’m always gushing about the actors but it
is a simple pleasure to work with people who ‘get’ a work like Undone
so naturally. Also – great music choices once again.
First broadcast BBC 7 17th February 2008
Episode 6 - Unification
Everything
and everyone comes together at Tankerton and Ida’s wedding. But whose
side will Edna take?
Starring Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Duncan Wisbey,
Sophie Duval, Kevin Eldon and John Dougal.
Series two ends with a twist (that you might have been seen coming) and
an extra twisty twist twist that nobody would have. This episode refers
back
to pretty much every episode of both series and there are mentions of
virtually everybody Edna has come across since day one. Hence the title
- still an "un" word but with a twist. But there’s also a story to be
told and while it’s sort of traditional to do a series finale with a
wedding, nothing quite goes to plan. We recorded the church scenes at
an
actual church (see photo) and Duncan played some typically
inappropriate wedding tunes on the organ. John Dougal (another superb
actor from the Radio Drama Company) played the Rev Enver marvellously.
We did the chase that ended
up in the square beside the Grand union Canal, provoking a certain
amount of interest from some kids who deliberately made noises when we
were recording. Tut!
Well that was series two. Everything you thought you knew was wrong.
Well everything Edna thought she knew – you probably worked it out, she
had to take Conspiriton. And even then Tankerton has to do a big speech
explaining it all. But the clues had always been there. Edna maybe
shouldn’t have believed everything she had been told and may be advised
not to believe everything the Prince now tells her. . .
The drugs dealer returns, giving Duncan’s magnificent Mexican accent
another outing. Sophie is funny and touching as Ida, especially with
her inspirational moment towards the end. Kevin is just brilliant as he
was in all his scenes this series. Me, I’m OK. But the star is really
Alex. Narrating a story and acting comedy in scenes aren’t the same
thing, but she did such a wonderful job here and over the whole series.
And quite what happens at the end of the party. Well. All I can say is
the person that smashes that vase is the same person who was in
Tankerton’s flat while Edna was in the wardrobe. Oh and we haven’t seen
the last of Tankerton. . .
First broadcast BBC 7 24th February 2008
As of time of writing (the end of February 2008) there is no word about
any further series of Undone. If you would like to hear more, please
contact BBC7 and leave a message. A show and a network like this relies
an awful lot on listener feedback; series 2 was commissioned on the
back of many positive comments and it would be great to complete the
story of Edna’s first, strange Summer in London and other cities.
Because, as you know, strange is good.
PICTURES
If you have any questions about the show, please use the
forum on this site or the BBC7
messageboard.
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