Ah, What Memories

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday November 3, 1997

Robin Oliver

FABLES

Seven, 8.30pm

THIS is not an ABC drama - not Aunty's bowl of gruel at all. But memories of great times with Phoenix and Janus come flooding back when Bill Hughes's name appears in the production credits for this sparkler for the Seven Network. With him is Simon Westaway, enjoying his best outing since prospects looked distinctly grim for Detective Senior Sergeant Faithful at the conclusion of Janus II.

Here also is Paul Sonkkila, the Phoenix unit's boss (and its eventual undoing) and Chris Haywood, who played Kidd, the smart alec defender in Janus, and here lands a grotty cameo which he indulges with relish.

So, it's welcome back to them and a quite remarkable welcome back to Melissa George, not long ago the darling of Home and Away, who gives solid notice that she's going places.

For her, a not very demanding but still very pleasing mainline performance as Rex, the daughter of a Sydney current affairs TV host, Henry Fable, played by Westaway.

Bill Hughes intends to tease. Firstly, Fable is just that, a fable of coincidence and a seemingly powerful talisman that brings extremes of fortune to its wearer.

The second tease is that Fable is just the TV host Seven dreams about, a news wizard who would outgun Martin and Munro with consummate ease.

A top villain finds his way back into the country, eluding the Feds to see his dying daughter. Then he falls more than somewhat foul of Fable.

The production is by an outfit called Fame, Set and Match, a bit of a pinch on Game, Set and Match, from whence the coffin idea.

You may not fall off the church roof with excitement, but this is enjoyably well done. A quite beautiful cliffhanger (The Gap) seems to ensure Westaway and George will return.