We
at Magic Bullet Productions recently received these excellent mini reviews from Marilyn Burge
and would like to share them with you:
I'm
thoroughly impressed with Magic Bullet's exceptional Blake's 7 audio
plays, available as free downloads.
The
team’s ability to craft compelling stories within this beloved
universe is remarkable. The productions shed a dark light on
previously unexplored corners, tackling the fate of the children
mentioned during Blake’s trial and the Federation Security
agent, Dev Tarrant, Jenna's final moments, Arlen's demise, and the
consequences of using Dorian's regenerative room.
The
voice acting, particularly Chrisi Pashley's narration, has brought
these adventures to life with impactful and convincing performances,
while the extra character background details have added depth.
This story-by-story response captures my emotional
reactions to each audio play. While my comments may be more visceral
than analytical, I hope they convey my appreciation for this
outstanding work, although there are only so many ways you can say
"Well, that was traumatic."
Prelude
The
powerful scenes in this tale could never have been achieved in the
original series due to budget constraints and TV censorship. The
combination of the narrator's vivid descriptions and the sound
effects capturing the girl's terror creates a deeply unsettling
atmosphere. Excellent direction and sound design make listening a
truly horrific experience, the more so because they speak to our
imagination. The depiction of the prisoners on the brink of execution
is haunting, and Travis' discovery of the Alien transmitter crystal
adds a fascinating detail.
I, Travis
The
atmospheric music at the start of this adventure effectively sets the
tone. Exploring Travis' state of mind and fixation on Blake provides
valuable insight, expanding on hints from the original series. The
narrative delves into Travis's military ethics and fascination
with Mutoids, offering a richer understanding of his character. The
production quality is exceptional, and Brian Croucher is outstanding.
Gothic
This
one troubled me the most. The juxtaposition of the Mutoid's injuries with her emotional numbness is deeply disturbing.
Travis's callous decision to abandon her, driven by his goal to reach
Star One, is characteristic of his obsessive nature. The Mutoid’s
destiny, revealed through Kane's appearance, adds a poignant layer to
the narrative.
Travis: The Final Line
Did Travis
believe Star One would be his final act in more ways than one?
According to this tale, he did, and his attempt to furnish himself with
a fitting epitaph is hilariously realised.
You Fly, You Die
Once again,
the production pushes the boundaries of the B7 universe, providing a
unique glimpse into Jenna's thoughts and feelings, largely absent
from the original series. The graphic description of her wounds and the acceptance of her demise are both gruesome and upsetting. Blake's
growing realisation of Jenna's situation and his reaction are
well-portrayed, culminating in a haunting final line.
Scars
The original
series barely touched upon the fate of the children identified as
victims of an allegedly depraved Blake in The Way Back, using them
primarily as a plot device to facilitate his exile. Here, the drama
explores the consequences of the Federation’s mental manipulation
through a remarkable storyline, which also reveals the truth about
Blake's own siblings in a way that is both plausible and devastating.
Dev Tarrant's character is well-utilised, exploiting the children's
fabricated memories for vengeful gain.
Premature Burial
Another
chiller. The notion that Dorian would preserve Seskas for future use
like a spider keeping flies in a web is both revolting and
characteristic of his twisted nature. The description of the room and
the Seskas' fate within is horrifying. Both this and The Logic of
Empire suggest Avon was attempting to starve the room, and in the
latter, it’s made clear that his blowing up Xenon Base effectively
buried it. Interestingly, despite Avon’s ruthlessness, he still
cared enough about Blake to prevent him from becoming the
Federation’s trophy corpse.
The Next Life
An eerie
opening, expertly narrated by Chrisi Pashley, draws the listener into
this tale. Sasha Mitchell delivers a super performance as Arlen,
conveying her presence throughout the narrative via screams, gasps,
and other vocalisations. Arlen’s satisfaction upon discovering Vila
among the dead is particularly unnerving and leaves a lasting
impression.
Report from an Unknown Planet
This cleverly
adapted Terry Nation story from the 1977 Dalek Annual is politically
relevant and offers a thought-provoking, exciting tale, which I very
much enjoyed. The sound design is outstanding, with effective
Dalek voices and sound design. Ian Reddington is an engaging actor,
and I loved the cameos from Brian Croucher, Trevor Cooper, and Robert
Barringer-Lock.
I
look forward to the future release of similar thought-provoking productions.
Pictured: Sound designer Chrisi Pashley.
.JPG)
(2).jpg)
.JPG)
