Ruddy Gore (30 Mar. 2012)

Twenty years after an actress commits suicide, her ghost comes back to haunt the theater. That night the curtain rises on Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore and one of the players dies on ... See full summary »

Director:

David Caesar

Writers:

Liz Doran, Kerry Greenwood (novel)

Stars:

Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Essie Davis	...	Phryne Fisher
Nathan Page	...	Detective John 'Jack' Robinson
Hugo Johnstone-Burt	...	Hugh Collins
Ashleigh Cummings	...	Dorothy 'Dot' Williams
Bille Brown	...	Bart Tarrant
Peter Cousens	...	Walter Copland
Christie Whelan	...	Leila Esperance
Alex Rathgeber	...	Gwilym Evans
Philippe Day	...	Lin Chung (as Philippe Sung)
Ross Thompson	...	Bradford
Richard Bligh	...	Mr. Butler
James Pratt	...	Hansen
James Pratt	...	Hansen
Debra Lawrance	...	Mrs. Mobbs
Amanda Ma	...	Granny Lin

Storyline

Twenty years after an actress commits suicide, her ghost comes back to haunt the theater. That night the curtain rises on Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore and one of the players dies on stage. Phryne has taken on difficult cases before, but has never one quite like this. Alongside her inquiries at the theater, Phryne finds reasons to visit Chinatown, both to investigate the illicit opium trade and to meet the gorgeous Lin Chung.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Release Date:

30 March 2012 (Australia)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Color:

Color Color (High Definition)

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

User Reviews

Two murders and a brief fling

For Dot's birthday, Phryne takes her to see a revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Ruddigore'. She had also invited Hugh but since he had to work, Detective Jack comes instead. Dot is quite smitten with one of the actors but Jack is quite bored. That is until the lead actor collapses on stage. Phryne finds, and purloins, a note on his body which says "You will pay for your sins." The actor was murdered by ingesting an overdose of opium. An old friend of Phryne's, Bart Tarrant, is the producer of the show and asks Phryne to investigate. He tells her that cast members and staff have reported seeing a ghost of a promising soprano, Dorothea Curtis, who had died of an apparent suicide 20 years previously. He was much in love with Dorothea and her death was the great tragedy of his life. After leaving the theater, Phryne happens to meet the very handsome Lin Chung. While dining in a restaurant in Chinatown, he tells her that he's a silk importer - but is he really or is he engaged in something more sinister - like the opium trade? Lin's mother approaches their table and berates her son but wow - Phryne speaks Chinese and makes a suitable reply to the mother. Phryne and Lin have a brief fling. But there is a second murder of a 'Ruddigore' cast member and Phryne delves deeper into the long ago death of the soprano and unmasks the ghost. As usual, the welcome comedy relief is provided by Hugh and Dot. Ever the romantic, Hugh gives Dot a pair of galoshes for her birthday and can't understand why her reaction to this gift is less than enthusiastic. Witnessing this, Phryne gives Hugh one of her books - 'Erotica of the Far East'. A book that Hugh finds fascinating. This was a solid episode with good production values, humor, interesting setting, and fine acting especially from Essie Davis as the witty and irreverent Phryne.