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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
