Reviews

 

As alluded to in  Big Finish's blurb for Mel-evolent (above), this latest Short Trip opens up a fairytale world that borrows a lot from classic literature, but essentially boils down to Mel having to imitate an evil queen who happens to look startlingly like her in order to stop the TARDIS being torn apart by the goblin-like Thrusks.

 

The story does conjure some great visual imagery, especially in the huge theatre hidden away in the TARDIS (the theatre rather handily has a costume department that includes a ready-made evil witch outfit). There is also the return of the Time-Space Visualiser, which was first introduced 1965's The Chase.

 

I new timelord is introduced in this story; Lady Tamara. In quite an interesting twist Lady Tamara has had to enter a constant state of regeneration in order to help her deal with the Thrusk.

 

There are some fun elements in this story, but sadly for me, it didn't all quite gel. I was never a fan of Mel when the character was on television, and this story didn't make me warm to her any further. It was also all a bit predictable and theatrical for my taste.

 

Mel-evolent is written by Simon A Forward and directed by Helen Goldwyn. Narration duties are of course carried out by Bonnie Langford