Review: Max Warp

Thanks to Jonathan Morris, I sat on the bus laughing like an idiot for quite a bit of my journey. I was listening to Max Warp, the second episode in the new series of Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller adventures. I giggled at "We'll be deciding where it goes on the Funky Board!", and gave an embarassingly sustained laugh to "Later on, we have Celebrity in a Budget-Conscious Spaceship!", and those lines are both in the first sixty seconds. Max Warp is - if you hadn't already guessed - partially a parody of the popular BBC motoring/entertaiment show Top Gear, and is filled with some disarmingly funny moments.

The story sees the Doctor and Lucie arriving on the Sirius Exhibition Station, just in time to see Max Warp co-presenter Timbo perish in a horrific accident whilst test-driving a new Kith spaceship. Everyone finds someone to blame, and accusations made towards the Kith Oligarchy could end the shaky peace between them and the Varlon Empire. It's up to the Doctor and Lucie to find out who's really responsible before it's too late.

There's something of a cartoonish feel to this story. It's bright and vibrant, and sometimes it's downright silly, but it never stops being enjoyable. The writing is polished and the plot is fast-paced, and the cast and crew have all entered into the light spirit of the play. The central mystery is strong and complex, with the final resolution coming as a surprise, and enriching re-listens. The Top Gear parodys is detailed and accurate enough to be instantly-recognisable and fun to listen to, but also general enough that anyone who's not familiar with the show will still get a lot out of the CD. Most listeners will find themselves with a smile on their face throughout, because there's a lot of humour in the script, too.

The funny moments aren't limited to the Max Warp sections, though; the two regulars are also given a chance to flex their comic ability. Lucie's increasingly outlandish theories about what caused the accident are great, and the recurring gag about the TARDIS's inferiority compared to other spaceships gives Paul McGann a chance to play the Doctor as slightly hurt, to amusing effect. Both lead actors are able to do something a little bit different with their performances, gearing their characters in a different way without becoming mere comic relief, and they rise to the challenge very well indeed.

The real stars of this play's cast are elsewhere, though. As lead Max Warp presenter Geoffrey Vantage, Graeme Garden pitches his performance perfectly -  he's every inch the perpetually-bitter, slightly prejudiced and generally outspoken middle-aged man. James Fleet is good too, giving us some endearing pedantry and cute line in tedious conversation. Both tackle the characters on their own terms, rather than worrying too much about giving perfect renditions of their real-life counterparts, which helps to retain the realism and believability of the performances. Duncan James completes the trio, as the doomed Timbo, but his few scenes seem rather stilted in comparison to his two fantastic co-stars.

The CD extras provide some more entertaining interviews, presented by Nicholas Briggs, with contributions from producer Barnaby Edwards and writer Jonathan Morris, as well as numerous cast members. There are also two hugely enjoyable music tracks, which I'll say no more about, because they're best listened to blind. As with the previous release, though, the bonus material is much more worthwhile than it was last year, and the Briggs-fronted format continues to impress.

This, then, is an inventive, original and amusing little play; part affectionate pastiche, part murder mystery. The writing, performances and production all excel, making Max Warp another brilliant release.