The newest addition to Audio Adventures in Time & Space, the spinoff audio series by BBV with Sylvester McCoy as the Professor and Sophie Aldred as Ace, is "Prosperity Island'. Unlike the first two, this is a double CD pack, approximately 120 minutes long. "Prosperity Island" was written by Tim Saward and directed by Bill Baggs and Tim Saward.
The Professor and Ace have stowed away on a ship in order to have a holiday on the planet Millanno. But things go quickly wrong when they find the dead body of the captain and the ship crashes. Washed up on different parts of Prosperity Island, Ace finds herself with a very talkative crew member and the Doctor saves Director Antoinette from her sinking ship.
The reuse of parts of one of Shakespeare's play (which one is evident very quickly) detracts somewhat from the story, and, when those parts aren't being used, the plot starts falling apart into a soap opera. A very long soap opera about the struggle for directorship of the planet, with the Professor and Ace the only likeable characters in this story. A number of good sf elements seem to be ignored after their introduction and several questions either go answered or the answers make no sense. Why is a vacation on Millanno so valued that people are willing to sacrifice an arm or leg? What was the unused safety equipment that could have saved innocent lives?
Besides Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, the cast includes Peter Miles as Projoy, Adam Bampton-Smith as Milo and the Subdirector, Tim Saward (writer) as Gabriel, Dan Riley as Stephen, Polly Pritchett as Director Antoinette, Clare Macmillan as both Calida and Gomera, and Alistair Lock as Bastien.
This might have worked as a shorter story, but several scenes went on far too long. Unlike the first two stories, where action was interspersed with a good mystery, this story barely makes use of the Professor and Ace, who seem to end up standing around while people talk at them. However, if you enjoy board room politics, bickering, and senseless deaths, this might be of interest.
Not recommended.
Price: US £17.99 sterling ($29.63) for the Double CD pack which includes postage and handling.
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