Farewell, Great Macedon [AUDIO/2010.11.10]

★★


  Yet another lightning-in-a-bottle moment for Big Finish; you've got the talents of William Russell and Carole Ann Ford, you've got Lisa Bowerman on the director's seat and you've also got John Dorney in one of his most commanding roles yet. Then you've got a pure historical that never lets go of its strong characterisations while being as evocative and mesmerising as possible, brought to life by Bowerman's expert direction and soundscape/music by the brilliant Toby Hrycek-Robinson... and believe me, those three hours go by in a flash. Farewell, Great Macedon is one of the standout releases of the Lost Stories range, a stunning drama that takes us back to the days of Alexander the Great and proves to us, yet again, how powerful pure historicals can be. 

  When you listen to something that refuses to leave your head for years on end, you know something's special. Farewell, Great Macedon is incredibly memorable, unforgettable even, with its lush sound design and strong characters. Alexander is performed and written so beautifully, a headstrong and wise and equally delicate, frail man who listens to the heart over the head and is swept away by the cruel handwaves of history. His dearest friends, killed one by one, are written so well that you feel genuinely sad for their passing in a way that few Doctor Who stories elicit. The conspirators are devious, devilish villains who act for wealth and profit, and our travellers in time and space are caught in the middle of their cruel machinations to assassinate Alexander and his three closest friends.

  If you want a strong First Doctor adventure, go for Farewell, Great Macedon. If you want a strong showcase of Big Finish Productions, I would still suggest Farewell, Great Macedon. If you want to educate your child, a big Doctor Who fan, on Alexander the Great and history in general, look no further than this release. It's got everything a pure historical nut would want in a story, and it's a darn strong audio drama to boot. One really cannot understate how high the drama gets in this adventure, and one also cannot understate how brilliant Dorney is as an actor. 


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