Got in my throat and made me cough
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On nineteenth Century Earth, artist Edvard Munch hears an infinite scream pass through nature. Centuries later, his painting of that Scream hangs in a gallery on the barren dust world - Duchamp 331.
Why is there a colony of artists on a planet that is little more than a glorified garage? What is the event that the passengers of the huge, opulent pleasure cruiser 'Gallery' are hoping to see? And what is hidden in the crates that litter the cargo hold?
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a good, tight little story that will please existing fans; however it is another victim of the curse of the ham actor and the series' worrying tendency to allow its cast to employ appallingly clichéd accents. As much as I liked Caroline John's measured TV portrayal of Liz Shaw I cannot excuse the `nails on a blackboard' Eastern European accent that she gives to her character Madame Salvadori. Whilst the character in question is admittedly over-the-top in nature, there is no call for Johns' `Carry on Dracula' impersonation! Johnson Willis' camp gallery owner played by Damien Pierson is equally ridiculous and Geoffrey Beevers only just stays the right side of parody.
On a more positive note, Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred concoct their usual pleasing chemistry as The Doctor and Ace and there are plenty of exciting moments - not least part two's revelation about the mysterious Mr Seta...
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Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.....
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From author Mike Tucker, one half of the duo responsible for the books MATRIX and Storm Harvest, comes this tidy little Seventh Doctor adventure. It starts off with an interesting little insight into the origin of the Scream painting (by Edward Munch) and then fast forwards far into the future to the dust planet of Duchamp 331 where 'mysterious circumstances' are underway. People are dying (killed, it seems, by the dust itself). The Doc and Ace arrive to appropriate the painting before it 'vanishes' (and add to the Doc's collection - itself an hilarious idea and one entirely in tune with the Doc's personality). There is a art gallery spaceship approaching with some interesting passengers - including a masked mystery called Seta.
I loved this story. It was twisting, includes a fabulous plot twist worthy of the Who stinger, a great setting, a returning villain in the shape of the Krill (from the book Storm Harvest) though in subdued form, and an a few great ideas surrounding the painting of the Scream itself. Ace excels here, as does the ever reliable Sylvester McCoy but its Geoffrey Beevers' masterful performance as the enigmatic Mr Seta that steals it. Thoroughly recommended to all - especcially the fans that will revel in certain continuities from other sources. 4 out of 5!
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