Shada-pa-ya-face
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It's hard to see the point of this Doctor Who audio - it is a remake of a 1979 Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana story which was famously left incomplete after a BBC strike. There are a few minor changes to the original e.g. it is The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) who contacts Romana (now President of the High Council of the Timelords) in order to re-tell the story from a slightly different perspective. What stands out though, is the sheer inappropriateness of some of the voices used in the audio version - Chris, Cambridge student and temporary companion to the Doctor, is played by a Scottish actor with the flattest and most monotonous voice I have ever heard on radio. Skaagra, evil alien in pursuit of an ancient and powerful Gallifreyan book, is as camp as you like, whilst Professor Chronotis, Timelord and old friend of The Doctor, sounds like a cross between a comedy mad scientist and a Clanger! The story was designed to be light-hearted (written as it was by Douglas Adams) but surely they could have found some better actors for these parts..? Unfortunately, these pantomime qualities spoil a perfectly good audio adventure; Lalla Ward and McGann spark off one another nicely and there is a welcome (if brief) return for K9.
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A regenerated story from Douglas Adams
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I first heard this show as a BBCi webcast and enjoyed it enormously. Although I don't yet know many other Who audiobooks to compare it with, the fact that it's written by Douglas Adams should instantly appeal to any "Hitchhiker's" fans. His style is stamped all over it, from the references to tea up to the "universe as a piece of real estate" line. "Shada" was originally written as a Tom Baker TV story but was left half-unfilmed due to a cameraman's strike - if you already own the video (I don't) then this CD might make an interesting comparison between the two Doctors. In summary, the silliness and the gloriously over-the-top villian propels the story along nicely, and "Harry Potter" fans might enjoy hearing "Oliver Wood" get taken on as the Doctor's temporary companion so soon after "Barty Crouch" became the Doctor!
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Really Entertaining
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I loved this story when it was the BBC webcast and I think there is a good chance that I will buy it. The voices are really very good and I enjoyed the story a lot. This audiobook stars many good voices including Sean Biggerstaff of Harry Potter fame as Chris. I really recommend this story to any Whovian.
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