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"The
Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Order the CD
or the Cassette
from Amazon.com!
Starring Leonard Nimoy, John de Lancie, Roxann
Biggs Dawson, Dwight Schultz, Ethan Phillips and Armin Shimerman.
Simon & Schuster Audio. Double CD/Double Cassette/Single
Video
Alien Voices, the collaboration between
Leonard 'Spock' Nimoy and John 'Q' de Lancie, is expanding at a rapid rate.
First there was 'The Time Machine', an adaptation of the H.G.Wells novel,
then 'Journey To The Centre of The Earth' by Jules Verne. Now, the
group turn their attention to 'The Lost World' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
A difference this time is the fact that it was recorded at a convention
in Pasadena although, apart from at the end of each CD, the audience is
inaudible. A pity that some of the attempts at Victorian English
accents isn't quite as inaudible!
Nimoy is ok, but then he is only in the
story briefly, as the London newspaper editor publishing the reports of
'The Lost World' Biggs Dawson (playing that (unfortunate) rarity
in Victorian Britain, a respected woman scientist) is actually rather good,
almost convincing. de Lancie (playing an aristocratic adventurer)
is also ok, being basically his own voice with a slight hint of English
in the backgrounds. Armin Shimmerman is not bad as the man who knows
where to find 'The Lost World' and whose idea the expedition is; though
he wobbles a bit, (the accent varies between crusty old English lord and
slightly manic Austrian scientist). By far and away the worst are
Dwight Schultz, (who takes the lead as the reporter accompanying the expedition)
and Ethan Phillips, (who mainly plays a collection of newspaper vendors,
junior reporters and buffoon-like scientists) whose attempts at various
British voices earn them a comparison with Dick Van Dyke in 'Mary Poppins'!
The story is briskly told, and readers
of the original book will notice sizable chunks missing, but it does flow
well, and the sound effects and incidental music (all performed 'live'
add to the atmosphere.
Worth getting? Maybe. This
is more of an ensemble piece than 'The Time Machine' was, you get to hear
more from all the actors, whereas before it was basically a Nimoy solo
performance. The accents are a barrier, but if you can get over this
you're in for an enjoyable treat!
(This is an edited version of a review
that first appeared in issue 23 of the USS Beagle newsletter.)
"The
Lost World" Video
"The Lost World" was
recorded for the SciFi Channel in front of a live audience; this recording
was later released as an abridged video (lasting about 45 minutes).
The cast interact well with the audience (even sitting amongst them for
certain scenes!) This is an excellent opportunity to see how the
story was recorded, with the Foley Artists (or sound effects!) live on
stage with the cast.
Order the Video
from Amazon.com!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: This video is only
available in the US NTSC format; please ensure,
if you are ordering from outside the United States, that your video player
can playback NTSC tapes.)
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