CP Studios are Scott D. Harris and James P. Quick, two fans extraordinaire who produce fan audios for Doctor Who and, premiering very soon, their own Batman series, World's Greatest Detective. There are many fan series, both in the UK and US, but this is CP Studios straddle the Atlantic, with Scott living in Britain and James in the States, which gives their audios a bit of international flavour. I've already looked at the first release of their main DW series, Las Pinturas Negras, and given that was two years ago I realise I haven't really these "Fans Who" often enough.
Las Pinturas Negaras is followed by two very different stories, both of which use ridiculous ideas to take on some heavy targets for satire. The Wooden Planet is a four parter, originally conceived by one Arco Chambers, very much in the format of the classic series or Big Finish's plays, but the content and pace varies considerably along the four episodes. As the title suggests, it's set on a planetoid constructed from wood, one that is inhabited by devout monks and nuns, perhaps drawing inspiration from one of the infamous proposed outlines for Alien 3. Of course, a wooden planet is an utterly ludicrous idea, one that Scott and James poke fun at in their script. Only people who are blinded by religious conviction into distrusting technology would possibly think that it's a sensible idea to live in a space habitat constructed from wood. There's more than one threat to the colony, but the major on is as devastating as it is prosaic: a fire, which the religious leaders refuse to confront.
It's a very strong script, with no little criticism of the way the religious right, in the classic words of the Doctor, "change the facts to fit the views." The monks even believe that the Earth has been utterly destroyed, something the Doctor knows to be absolutely untrue in this timeframe, since he's been there both then and after. Scott plays the Doctor as well as being one half of the writing/producing team. He's at what we might call peak McCoy here, rolling his r's like nobody's business and generally giving it his all as a slightly flamboyant, rather verbose incarnation of the Doctor. His sense of mounting frustration as the story progresses is tangible.
As with all fan productions, the acting skill varies, but it's generally very good, and I particularly liked Katie Parker as Sister Lianne, who becomes a sort of extra companion for the story, as well as Monica Ballard as the insanely close-minded leader the Abbess. As the episodes continue, the story takes unexpected turns, with a seemingly metaphorical beast in the colony's bowels turning out to be very real (and very familiar), leading to some effective horror as the Doctor and his team attempt to escape from the mounting threats. The final episode slows the pace down considerably, acting as a sort of epilogue for the frenetic adventure. My only real nitpick for the production is that, as with Las Pinturas Negras, the use of music from throughout the history of Doctor Who makes it sound very disjointed.
This is completely resolved in the funny little follow up Everything Stops for Tea, a curious one-episode adventure which sees Scott's Doctor now acting solo. The story boasts an excellent new theme tune by Hardwire, and altogether improved sound design. Anne Lawrence joins the team as assistant producer, credited as both having originated the story idea (then written by Scott and edited by James), and also plays the Doctor's defense attorney Clover. Yes, the Doctor's on trial again, in a skewed version of England which plays out like a Victorian version of Planet of the Apes. After taking on religion in The Wooden Planet, CP Studios turns its attention to inflexible justice systems and close-minded bigotry. It's a very silly but very effective one-off. Scott plays his Doctor a little calmer, albeit unable (for reasons that become clear) to keep his trap shut for more than a moment. The only little problem is that the recording of Anne's part is of a different quality to the rest, with a noticeable background hiss, which unfortunately marrs the otherwise excellent sound.
So a big shout-out to Scott and James (who, btw, has small roles in both productions AND does the cover art AND directs both stories) for some very fine Doctor Who adventures.
Best lines: The Wooden Planet: "I thought the sonic screwdriver didn't do wood?"
Las Pinturas Negaras is followed by two very different stories, both of which use ridiculous ideas to take on some heavy targets for satire. The Wooden Planet is a four parter, originally conceived by one Arco Chambers, very much in the format of the classic series or Big Finish's plays, but the content and pace varies considerably along the four episodes. As the title suggests, it's set on a planetoid constructed from wood, one that is inhabited by devout monks and nuns, perhaps drawing inspiration from one of the infamous proposed outlines for Alien 3. Of course, a wooden planet is an utterly ludicrous idea, one that Scott and James poke fun at in their script. Only people who are blinded by religious conviction into distrusting technology would possibly think that it's a sensible idea to live in a space habitat constructed from wood. There's more than one threat to the colony, but the major on is as devastating as it is prosaic: a fire, which the religious leaders refuse to confront.
It's a very strong script, with no little criticism of the way the religious right, in the classic words of the Doctor, "change the facts to fit the views." The monks even believe that the Earth has been utterly destroyed, something the Doctor knows to be absolutely untrue in this timeframe, since he's been there both then and after. Scott plays the Doctor as well as being one half of the writing/producing team. He's at what we might call peak McCoy here, rolling his r's like nobody's business and generally giving it his all as a slightly flamboyant, rather verbose incarnation of the Doctor. His sense of mounting frustration as the story progresses is tangible.
As with all fan productions, the acting skill varies, but it's generally very good, and I particularly liked Katie Parker as Sister Lianne, who becomes a sort of extra companion for the story, as well as Monica Ballard as the insanely close-minded leader the Abbess. As the episodes continue, the story takes unexpected turns, with a seemingly metaphorical beast in the colony's bowels turning out to be very real (and very familiar), leading to some effective horror as the Doctor and his team attempt to escape from the mounting threats. The final episode slows the pace down considerably, acting as a sort of epilogue for the frenetic adventure. My only real nitpick for the production is that, as with Las Pinturas Negras, the use of music from throughout the history of Doctor Who makes it sound very disjointed.
This is completely resolved in the funny little follow up Everything Stops for Tea, a curious one-episode adventure which sees Scott's Doctor now acting solo. The story boasts an excellent new theme tune by Hardwire, and altogether improved sound design. Anne Lawrence joins the team as assistant producer, credited as both having originated the story idea (then written by Scott and edited by James), and also plays the Doctor's defense attorney Clover. Yes, the Doctor's on trial again, in a skewed version of England which plays out like a Victorian version of Planet of the Apes. After taking on religion in The Wooden Planet, CP Studios turns its attention to inflexible justice systems and close-minded bigotry. It's a very silly but very effective one-off. Scott plays his Doctor a little calmer, albeit unable (for reasons that become clear) to keep his trap shut for more than a moment. The only little problem is that the recording of Anne's part is of a different quality to the rest, with a noticeable background hiss, which unfortunately marrs the otherwise excellent sound.
So a big shout-out to Scott and James (who, btw, has small roles in both productions AND does the cover art AND directs both stories) for some very fine Doctor Who adventures.
Best lines: The Wooden Planet: "I thought the sonic screwdriver didn't do wood?"
"Who on Earth told you that rubbish?"
Best credit: Everything Stops for Tea: Simian Noises Linda Leete
Listen to The Wooden Planet
Listen to Everything Stops for Tea
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