Dark Shadows: New Audio Dramas from Big Finish

[Nancy]

I would be too if I had not been ever been involved with Reader's Theater.  There is an audience for dramatic readings in person or via audio recordings just for what it is - audio performance.  Yes, it's true.

i'm very surprised to hear that there are those unfamiliar with the series but are listening to these readings.

[The Doctor and K9]

Actually if you go to the Big Finish Forums, you'll read that there are a number of people, Big Finish fans, who are listening to these and then getting hooked on the show.  Stuart told me that a significant percentage of their subscribers are people new to DS. I imagine that number has gone up since they started inserting Doctor Who actors into the range.

[Nancy]

Those individuals with vision challenges are also a target audience for audio performance material. 

Nancy

[Gothick]

Very interesting.  I figured they were getting a fair percentage of Who fans with all the crossovers from the Who actors.

I would still like to know if there is anyone out there reviewing this material.  Actual reviews, not promotional material or posts from fans just stating that they loved or hated the recording.  Perhaps not?  I guess I'll go out and have a look on my own.  If I find anything I will post the link here.

Best, G.

[The Doctor and K9]

http://scifibulletin.com/us-tv/dark-shadows/
I hope I typed the link above correctly. It leads to some reviews of the DS CDs. I could not figure out how to paste in the link. If it doesn't work, let me know.

[Gothick]

Thanks, Doctor.  That was along the lines of what I was hoping for.

Best, G.

[Midnite]

I could not figure out how to paste in the link.

Edit > Paste using the drop down menu, or use the key shortcut Ctrl + V

[arashi]

Having just listened to The Final Judgment this evening, I couldn't agree more with the review. Trying to drum up any sympathy for Angelique was absolutely impossible, while Josette's attempts to either defend herself or prosecute Angelique came across as endlessly frustrating.

Looking forward to hearing The Lost Girl later and see where the story goes from there.

[arashi]

Listened to The Lost Girl last night and rather liked it.

[spoiler]
Vamp Josette was just awesome. If only they had done a PT story of this! The image of Josette in her blood red dress stalking down misty alleyways with Barnabas was just.... I might have to draw it. Probably my favorite part of it.

Several authors of the audio dramas have been trying (it seems to me) to put a sympathetic spin on Angelique. I just can't buy it. I still don't buy that she really loved him. She wanted to possess him because she wanted everything Josette had. Not to mention the whole murder your family to get you thing she had going on. He said it was over and she just couldn't accept that. That's not tragic, it's psychotic.
[/spoiler]

[Gothick]

Thanks for that review, Arashi.  I love the imagery you describe and would love to see your drawing. 

I totally agree re Angelique.  Of course it doesn't help that in her final storyline, in 1840, she makes a turn-on-a-dime 180 degree character switch from being her usual psychotic rampaging self to being some kind of altruistic Florence Nightingale of Witchdom. Without any real explanation or justification.

I can see fans who are really hung up on what they did with her in that storyline being able to justify all kinds of stuff with her.

G.

[arashi]

I bought the download for The Carrion Queen (which was also very good) so I don't have the full cast list as they don't post it on the website. Does anyone know who did the voice of The Carrion Queen herself? It sounded a lot like Lysette Anthony to me.

I love how a lot of the dramatic reading pieces are starting to tie together. Can't wait to see what other stories we're going to get this year!

[The Doctor and K9]

The Carrion Queen was plyed by the author Lizzie Hopley.  She'sn actress who's done other roles for Big Finish and Doctor Who on TV.

[arashi]

Thank you, Doctor!  That was really bugging me!

[quentincollins]

I thought the Final Judgement was pretty good and thought it painted a complex portrait of both women. I thought there was enough subtlety and shading in the writing and performance that Angelique was both sympathetic and horribly monstrous all at the same time. Josette was shown to be vain and selfish, but not truly a bad person.
Lost Girl is also very good, focused on Josette, and I think that story will redeem a lot of the things about Final Judgement that people didn't like.

[arashi]

...and I think that story will redeem a lot of the things about Final Judgement that people didn't like.

That was definitely the case for me.

Tonight I'm going to listen to The Blind Painter, the last in the batch of the ones I just purchased. Interested to here how RD does.