The Doctor: “Very CARRY ON…CLEO”
It certainly would be if Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Connor had scoffed a bunch of grapes and then had transmogrified into ravenous beasts but, thankfully, James Goss’ DOCTOR WHO – THE HOUNDS OF ARTEMIS is far more restrained, intelligent and, at times, thoroughly scary.
Boo.
Like a seemingly sentient sandstorm, the story is fascinatingly unpredictable and even though listeners will be familiar with the “uncovering-a-Pharaoh-tomb” format plotline (from the likes of DOCTOR WHO series itself, the INDIANA JONES franchise, and numerous novels) it offers a new insight.
And if the story doesn’t scare the sand out of your shoes then the original music score and special sound effects will.
Recounted in part in “flashback” – using an abandoned diary written by Amelia Pond – the story revolves around the 1929 discovery by the entrepreneurial Lord Woolcroft of the lost Tomb of Artemis and the revelation that an unknown force from within is systematically cherry-picking the archaeological team one by one.
Passing themselves off as curators from the Scarman Institute [The British Museum], the Doctor, aided by Amy, cannot resist “popping back” to find out what is happening and, without altering establish historical events (Doctor: “No touchy”), resolve the momentous event.
In control of the original expedition is Lord Woolcroft, a lecherous, well-lubricated aristocrat that Amy describes in her diary as:
Diary extract: Wandering hands by day, legless by night but as the Doctor said he’s the money…
Bradley Stapleton, a young archaelogicalist eager to make a name for himself (and, with a “don’t mention it. Ever” nudge from the Doctor he eventually makes a landmark discovery), whilst Helen Stapleton (played by the release’s co-reader, Clare Corbett is his Granddaughter and recipient of Pond’s diary.
The expedition’s artist, a large Germanic woman called Van De Cass who, according to Amy, is permanently floating amid a cloud of Talcum powder and a haze of overpowering Lavender oil.
And at the periphery of the action, a Turkish carpet weaver-cum-soothsayer that, unfortunately, everyone, bar the Doctor, ignore.
Like the PYRAMIDS OF MARS Scarman reference, the script is refreshingly littered with nods” to both the CLASSIC SERIES and the NEW SERIES; everything from THE WEB PLANET to SERIES 5’s “crack” story arc.
Read, like a tag-team, by Matt Smith and Clare Corbett (recently heard in the BBC audio exclusive series, THE HORNETS’ NEST) provides a perfect antidote to the “single-voice” format. Whilst Smith’s youthful voice has a challenge in characterising the octogenarian Woolcroft, he is, of course, pitch-perfect in reproducing his Eleventh Doctor; Corbett is wonderfully creative in establishing the characters’ voices, and whilst initially you had wanted to hear Karen Gillan on this release that “want” is quickly dismissed.
And with no Rory Williams to unceremoniously clog-up the timeless action, DOCTOR WHO – THE HOUNDS OF ARTEMIS is surprisingly superior to the recent NEW SERIES “exclusive audios” (such as THE RING OF STEEL and THE GEMINI CONTAGION), and this is either due to the care & attention lavished by the production team (Kate Thomas & Hilary Field) in realising the adventure and by James Goss’ knowledge of DOCTOR WHO heritage in crafting the perfect space-time adventure.
With this release, AUDIOGO have another success on their hands.
