| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the 1996 magazine story, the 2010 magazine story, the 2013 magazine story or the UK video. |
- “Steady boys!”
- ― Victor to Thomas and Charlie
Play Time is the seventh episode of the thirteenth series.
Plot
Allicia Botti is going to perform at the Town Hall and Thomas is given the job to collect her from the docks. On the way, Thomas meets Percy who tells him that a new engine named Charlie has also arrived at the docks and that he is more fun than Thomas. Thomas meets Charlie at the docks and Charlie tells him that his friends on the Mainland think that Thomas is considered the more fun one. The Fat Controller tells Charlie to pick up some trucks at the Sodor Steamworks for the concert at the Town Hall.
Charlie challenges Thomas to a race to the Steamworks. Thomas declines, but when Charlie says that he is not fun, he agrees and the two set off for the Steamworks - not to the Town Hall. After going to the Steamworks, Charlie tells Thomas that they should race to the dairy and he agrees. They soon race across the rickety track that goes over the Fenland. The bumpy track starts to shake the coupling between Thomas and Annie loose, but Thomas does not know it. After the race, Charlie challenges Thomas to another one to Knapford when Thomas sees Gordon taking some important people, including the Fat Controller, to the Town Hall. Thomas realises he is late and rushes away, though he does not know that the loose coupling comes undone and he leaves Annie, Clarabel and Allicia Botti behind.
When Thomas arrives at the Town Hall, the Fat Controller scolds Thomas for being late and for leaving Allicia Botti behind. Thomas then rushes back to find them only to be challenged to another race by Charlie. Thomas, knowing that now is not the time for racing, refuses and continues looking for his coaches. Suddenly, he hears Allicia Botti singing. Thomas rushes towards her voice and finds her singing to some people on a bridge. Thomas takes her to the Town Hall and she praises him for her exciting ride, which she tells the Fat controller. This makes Thomas pleased with himself, as does Charlie.
Characters
- Thomas
- Percy
- Charlie
- Victor
- Kevin
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Allicia Botti
- Edward (does not speak)
- Gordon (does not speak)
- James (does not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- The Sodor Dairy Manager (does not speak)
- The Dairy Employees (do not speak)
- Toby (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
- The Mainland Engines (mentioned)
- The Mainland Controllers (mentioned)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Percy and the Fat Controller
- Matt Wilkinson as Charlie, Victor and Kevin
- Jules de Jongh as Allicia Botti
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
- Glenn Wrage as Charlie
- David Bedella as Victor
- Kerry Shale as Kevin and Sir Topham Hatt
- Jules de Jongh as Allicia Botti
Trivia
- Jules de Jongh joins the UK voice cast.
- The Fat Controller's first name is revealed when Allicia Botti calls him "Bertram."
- This episode was shown in select US theatres.
- Stock footage from the 2009 special, Hero of the Rails is used.
- This episode is the first with many things:
- The first appearance of the Rail Under Road Bridge Signalbox in full CGI, as well as the first episode to feature it since the first series episode, Thomas in Trouble.
- The first episode in CGI to feature Hideyuki Kanaya as part of the Japanese voice cast, as well as the first episode where he voices an engine.
- Suddery Junction first appearance since the second series episode, The Diseasel.
- The first appearance of the Watermill in an episode since the eighth series episode, Emily's Adventure.
- Allicia Botti sings parts of Carmen Suite No. 2, Habanera by Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet throughout parts of the episode.
- In Poland, this episode premiered before Hero of the Rails, so the audience probably would not have known about Victor, Kevin or the Sodor Steamworks.
Goofs
- On the Korean DVD subtitles, the word "Mainland" is not translated.
- On the Korean DVD subtitles, the word "Carpet" was written as "Capyet."
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway - Percy and the Engine Wash Car (discontinued)
- TrackMaster - Charlie in "Play Time" (discontinued)
- Books - Percy Disappeared
- My Thomas Story Library - Charlie (discontinued)
- Magazine Stories - Play Time (2010)/Play Time (2013)
- Engine Adventures - Charlie
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK/IRL
DVD PacksUS
DVD Packs
AUS/MYS/NOR/SWE/DK/FIN
AUS DVD Packs
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DVD BoxsetsLATAM
LATAM DVD BoxsetsFRA
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| #01 Creaky Cranky | #08 Thomas and the Pigs | #15 Splish Splash Splosh |
| #02 The Lion of Sodor | #09 Time for a Story | #16 The Biggest Present of All |
| #03 Tickled Pink | #10 Percy's Parcel | #17 Snow Tracks |
| #04 Double Trouble | #11 Toby's New Whistle | #18 Henry's Good Deeds |
| #05 Slippy Sodor | #12 A Blooming Mess | #19 Buzzy Bees |
| #06 The Early Bird | #13 Thomas and the Runaway Kite | #20 Hiro Helps Out |
| #07 Play Time | #14 Steamy Sodor | |