Customer Reviews

Venus Mantrap (Bernice Summerfield Big Finish)

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It doesn't take long into 'Venus Mantrap' to work out that we are in for something akin to a Passover Seder meal served with chocolate fudge ice cream moulded into the shape of a carrot. Half profundity and depth, half base comedy.

Example One: "Since Jason's death..." says Benny, all broken and regretful for the loss of her wayward ex-husband, cueing sensitive harp music. Then her rival Scoblow responds in the Packars' trademark comedy-rodent voice and the music goes all cutesy again, from fourth gear into reverse and back again in one uneasy manoeuvre. Scoblow and Bernice's bickering tries to be entertaining and as the story creaks on, it seems clear that we are supposed to be concentrating on 'funny', Benny being obliged to pass herself off as a 'Love Drone' for instance. But suddenly, in the midst of her flirtatious exchange with her client N'Jok we get: "I'm not quite sure if I'm ready... I just lost..." Then right back to the hilarious hi-jinx. Problem is, it's not hilarious. Not at all. Nothing wrong with the cast or the production, it's just that the script is not at all amusing when it is clearly trying so hard to be so.

Example Two: Twisk's speech goes way over the limit in the smut department, without once threatening to produce so much as a smile. (What is this, 'Carry On Up The Cosmos'?)

Example Three: Mister Felterby whom we see at the beginning is not in fact a tourist but a... Which means... Oh, my sides! And a ship explodes... And Peter's been kidnapped...

And who the hell cares...