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Colonel Franklin reluctantly grants Aaran access to Medicworld's
Central Command, where he intends to fix the result of the
Galactovision Song Contest. Meanwhile, Gamak and Cilla's entry
is an unexpected success. And the Retsab Maureen nears her
spawning time, when her hungry offspring will break loose...
Aaran's
(Gareth Thomas) manipulation of Colonel Franklin (Sarah Sutton)
is achieved by means of a control bracelet, which is rather
reminiscent of the one Sutton wore as Nyssa in the Doctor
Who story Logopolis. I was further reminded of
Saturday teatimes of old by Aaran's megalomaniac laughter
as his plans approach fruition - he sounds remarkably like
Basil Brush, although he stops short of going "Boom, boom!"
I had been wondering how much longer the Galactovision Song
Contest scenario could be successfully sustained. The CD's
cover suggests that this episode revolves primarily around
the competition. Fortunately, before the concept is allowed
to outstay its welcome, there is a shift of emphasis as Aaran's
scheme inadvertently causes the medical wellbeing of all on
Medicworld to take a turn for the worse.
But
sadly not before we are "treated" to another couple of songs,
performed by Gamak (Mark J Thompson) and Chickenskin (Peter
Ager) respectively. The return of the bantam menace prompts
a resurgence of cock-related innuendo, but we seem to have
heard all of this before.
Meanwhile,
Madame Deephole (Jacqueline Pearce), Violet Goodgrip (Alison
Taffs), Major Grondlepuss (Thompson) and Crispin Caelys (Niall
Stuchfield) make considerable progress in their investigation,
and remind the listener of certain plot developments along
the way. As they head off for their next destination, Madame
D's rallying cry finally spells out the relevance of the series
title.
Part
Nine culminates in one of the series' better cliffhangers,
which has left me gagging for the double-disc Part Ten.
Richard
McGinlay
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