Theatre Column
Good times, bad times
Former Doctor Who, Colin Baker, is going back in
time to bring a comedy classic to the stage
THE passage of time isn't
always an agreeable subject,
even for a former Doctor
Who. Colin Baker, the sixth
timelord in the Tardis, opens
our conversation with a complete
refusal to discuss his approaching
birthday landmark of 65 and follows it
up by calling time on discussion about
working with his ex-wife Liza Goddard
for the first time since they divorced 30
years ago.
The two have been paired as man
and wife again in Oliver Goldsmith's
classic comedy She Stoops to Conquer,
which dates back to 1773, and plays
Darlington's Civic Theatre next week.
"You're not ringing me up to talk
about age are you? I avoid all
discussion about age and it's only
interesting if a 95-year-old climbs
Everest. You've pressed my irritated
button there, but that's not your fault,"
he says jovially.
On a Press quote that he had been
worried about meeting Goddard in the
rehearsal room, Colin responds:
"Never believe what you read in the
paper unless you've written it yourself
and then you know whether you're
telling the truth or not. It was 30 years
since we were married and we've both
forgotten all about it. It had to happen
sometime."
But the popular actor gracefully
ducks a question about himself and
Liza working together for the first
time. How would he write about it in
his entertaining column for the weekly
newspaper, the Bucks Free Press,
which covers his home area of High
Wycombe?
"I deal in bigger issues about things
like people having red fog lights on the
back of their cars and not turning
them off. Those are the things that
exercise me," he laughs.
So the conversation switches to
promising director Jonathan Munby's
new version of She Stoops To Conquer.
Class and courtship provide the
amusing ammunition as two young
men attempt to court two women and
stumble through delightful deceits.
"I didn't know the play well,
although I'd seen it years before, and
it's a thumping good production which
is about real people and still very
funny today. Jonathan Munby took a
fresh look at the play and didn't want it
done like before and it's been well
received," Colin says.
Baker has strong links with the
North-East. Until recently his Uncle
Ken and Auntie Olive, from Bishop
Auckland, came to see his plays which
toured to Darlington Civic.
"Sadly, both of them died in the last
two years. They always came to see me
and I shall miss seeing them because
they were lovely," Colin says.
His other attachment is to Chesterle-
Street-based composer/musician
George Hastings. The two have
collaborated on several children's
musicals, the latest being The B
Factor, a play on the X Factor, for
Boldon School, which Baker praises for
its stunning theatre.
Other works the pair have created
are being performed around the
country. "We're not pulling down the
pillars in the West End yet, but watch this space. Writing lyrics is one of the
most enjoyable activities I do and I'm
quite proud of what I've managed to
cobble together," he says modestly.
While Colin is away touring or
attending Doctor Who conventions,
wife Marion is in charge of the couple's
four daughters, three dogs, four cats,
three goats, two horses, 11 guinea pigs,
seven chickens, two gerbils and five
hamsters.
"I sit down and say no more
animals' on a regular basis and am
completely ignored. I get grumpy
about the cost mainly, but it is lovely
seeing them all," he says.
Last time I interviewed him he didn't
want his four children to follow him
into showbusiness. "From my point of
view the debate hasn't moved on, but
from their's it has. My oldest, Lucy, is
working for the BBC as a researcher on
The Weakest Link, so that's okay.
Bindy was destined for a career in art
but has switched to musical theatre,
God that's too close. Lally is about to
go to university to read English and
film studies, dangerously close. Rosie
is doing drama and media at A-level
after all the things I've done to
discourage them."
10:57am Saturday 12th April 2008
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