Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome sequel to 'Medicinal Purposes', 10 Jun 2008
It is hard not to enjoy `Assassin in the Limelight', the latest Big Finish story from Robert Ross (who had previously contributed `Pier Pressure' and `Medicinal Purposes' to the range). The story features the return of Robert Knox, once again played with gusto by Leslie Philips, and takes an intriguing historical setting - the day of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
The tale unfolds quickly. The decision to set the story in America could have been a stumbling block but Ross has done his research, establishing the characters well and succeeding in telling a story about the assassination in which we never see Lincoln himself.
Colin Baker and Leslie Philips spark off each other nicely whilst Maggie Stables is as reliable as ever in the role of Evelyn. The supporting cast are good and the production values are as good as ever.
Compared to some of Big Finish's recent Doctor Who stories, `Assassin in the Limelight' is a reliable romp of an adventure. Certainly it could not be accused of drowning in depth, but it balances humour and action well and never really flags.
One word of warning however: I would recommend that if you have the intention to listen to `Medicinal Purposes' or `Pier Pressure' that you listen to those stories before this one. Whilst this story stands well enough on its own, it does spoil both of those previous stories.
Robert Ross has once again crafted an enjoyable tale and I for one hope that he, and Robert Knox, reappear on the Big Finish releases schedule soon.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
wilde by name and nature, 19 Jun 2008
another audio play featuring colin baker's doctor who, with his companion evelyn smythe played by maggie stables. as usual with this range the story last for four twenty five minute long episodes, spread over two cd's, and there are interviews with the cast and crew at the end of each. Plus the first begins with a trailer for the next big finish story.
This story is a sequel of sorts to two earlier ones from the same writer 'medicinal purposes' and 'pier pressure' and features the return of doctor knox, a villainous time traveller played by leslie phillips, who was in the first of those two. Knox is at ford's theatre washington on the day in 1865 when abraham lincoln was assassinated, and is meddling with history. can the doctor stop him? Or is there more going on here than meets the eye?
You could probably get into this one without having heard those other two stories but it may help you get more out of it if you have. It's an interesting script as there's not a lot of tension to it, but as a story it's quite an enjoyable listen thanks to some excellent acting and a plot which has a few good twists and turns.
And whatever you don't turn the cd off once the end music of the final episode starts...
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4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable historical story, with Leslie Phillips as the villain....possibly, 19 Mar 2009
Robert Ross wrote Medicinal Purposes, which introduced us to the character of Knox, played admirably by Leslie Phillips. Realising what a succesful creation he is, Ross has brought him back for another adventure with the Doctor. Although there are other good performances in this play, it's really with Phillips that the story comes to life.
Colin Baker's Doctor and Maggie Stables's Evelyn work so well together that it is a joy to hear them and Phillips together again. The sixth Doctor has always sounded theatrical and important, so putting him in a theatre at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln is a very fitting location for him. Evelyn Smythe, his companion, is a history professor and therefore knows enough about how things should turn out to be able to give the listener an informed view of events. But she also has a heart, and like many a companion, is tempted to put her compassion before her loyalty to 'history'. This cliche aside, it's a well written script, and we can forgive Ross for revisiting the territory of "Who Killed Kennedy", as the dialogue and central ideas are so good.
An enjoyable listen, primarily for the three lead performances, but also for the impressively researched script.
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