Just a word or two about a recent big Finish Torchwood story I listened to on Monday night. I lay listening to this in a semi darkened room as heavy rain fell against the walls and windows, as the tale unfolded of just such a night in the middle of nowhere (Well, somewhere outside Cardiff.) at The Traveller's Halt, a spooky motel one might very well check into but will find considerably more difficult to leave. A young traveller finds himself stranded there at the height of a rainstorm and meets the mysterious Billis Manger played with understated menace by the magical Murray Melvin, whos original casting in the role was an unappreciated stroke of genius. It must have been tempting to create a nemesis for Captain Jack who was a mirror to his virile masculinity but to go the other way and come up with a chilling character who barely has to raise his voice to scare is just great writing.
A small but tight group of performers and producers have produced a wee classic in a line that continues to shine brightly alongside its origin material. Gareth Pierce as Hywel Roberts more than holds his own during this nightmarish confrontation between innocence and calculated evil. Innocence being no defense in the face of a cruel plan that requires hosts to balance a Faustian deal. If you were looking for a place to jump on to this amazing series or just fancy a chilling stand alone ghost story to listen to on a winters evening then this is waiting for you.
