The Continuing Adventures of Bernice Summerfield
"Walking to Babylon"
reviewed by Kathy Sullivan
by Kate Orman, adapted by Jac Rayner
'Walking to Babylon' is the first in the 'Time Ring' trilogy, which makes use of the time rings Benny and Jason were given as wedding presents by a certain time traveller. For those expecting a complete adaptation of the Kate Orman book, this audio is only based on the book, and this is one of the first divergences. For those who haven't read the book, the audio stands quite well on its own.
Bernice Summerfield finds her ex-husband Jason King on her doorstep one morning, along with a fan of her works. After they leave, she discovers that her wedding ring--one half of a time ring set--has vanished. Attempting to retrieve her ring, she learns that a time path has been set up to ancient Babylon, and that a powerful race, The People, wants to shut down the path--with a bomb, if necessary-- before time can be changed. Benny volunteers to walk the path to Babylon and rescue Jason from his powerful kidnappers before the People's plan to destroy the path destroys Babylon as well.
Directed by Gary Russell, Jac Rayner's adaption of "Walking to Babylon" has humor (hinted at by the track/chapter headings), mystery, nice historical touches and suspense. Lisa Bowerman is again terrific as Benny, at times sarcastic, self-mocking, intelligent, diplomatic and quick-thinking in times of danger. Elisabeth Sladen is perfect as Lady Ninan, curious, concerned, wistful, and a good friend to have in times of trouble.
Harvey Summers has some very nice music for this story, managing to suggest both the ancient and the futuristic.
The cast includes Lisa Bowerman as Benny, Stephen Fewell as Jason Kane, Elisabeth Sladen as Ninan-ashtammu, Barnaby Edwards as John Lafayette, Steven Wickham as The Drone, Nigel Fairs as WiRgo!xu, Louise Morell as Miriam, Anthony Keetch as !C!ci-tel, and Alex Canini as Babylonian Child.
110 minutes. Also included is an interview with Lisa Bowerman and Stephen Fewell.
Recommended.
by Nigel Robinson, adapted by Jac Rayner
The second of the Time Ring trilogy opens with Benny in England, trying to find Jason. The time period is around the turn of the century, and someone is killing East End ladies of the evening in a very nasty way. Benny teams up with a Russian detective (portrayed delightfully by Colin Baker) in an attempt to catch the murderer. However, the police seem intent on blaming her.
Meanwhile, Jason has been taken captive by the Charri, large grasshopper beings who want his help to travel to another world. But why does the world they're on seem familiar to him?
This story is filled with plots and counterplots, as Benny attempts to solve both the murders and the mystery of why someone is trying to get her wedding ring. Jason has problems of his own while he tries to reason with the Charri and find Benny. The pacing of the two storylines works very well, although strong characters such as Popov, Charlie and Khan make the Benny plotline more interesting.
The cast includes Lisa Bowerman as Benny, Colin Baker as Mikhail Vladamir Popov, John Wadmore as Jared Khan, Jonathan Reason as Chief Inspector Prior, Jane Shakespeare as Queen Ch'tizz, Benjamin Roddy as Charlie, Stephen Fewell as Jason Kane, Barnaby Edwards as John Lafayette, and other voices by James Grapham, David Sax and Nicholas Briggs. Very creepy sound design and chilling music composition by Nicholas Briggs. Directed by Nicholas Briggs.
110 minutes.
Recommended
"Just War"
by Lance Parkin, adapted by Jac Rayner
The third in the Time Ring Trilogy finds Benny and Jason still separated. Jason arrives on Earth in 1936, while Benny arrives in 1941--right into the middle of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey.
This story (as it was with the book it's based on) pulls no punches as to the grim reality of war, military occupation, and the treatment of prisoners. Benny's knowledge of the Nazis' methods helps her a little--but she's only human. On the other hand, the Nazis don't understand what type of human stands against them.
This is a very powerful story in many ways, although it is painful to listen to what Benny endures.
The cast includes Lisa Bowerman as Benny, Stephen Fewell as Jason Kane, Michael Wade as Obeerst Oskar Steinmann, Mark Gatiss as Standardtenfuhrer Joachim Wolff, Maggie Stables as Ma Doras, Nicky Golding as Nurse Rosa Kitzel, Anthony Keetch as Private Franz Hutter, Simon Moore as Private Gerhard Flur. Sound design and haunting music by Harvey Summers. Directed by Gary Russell.
110 minutes.
Recommended.
"Buried Treasures"
by Paul Cornell & Jac Rayner
An additional bonus available only to those who ordered the Time Ring trilogy, this CD contains two short plays, an interview with Paul Cornell, and a track of Harvey Summers' excellent music from 'Walking to Babylon' and 'Just War'.
'Making Myths' by Jac Rayner is delightfully funny, as Pakhar journalist Keri (Sarah Mowatt) conducts a radio interview with Professor Bernice Summerfield on the site of her most recent dig. Pakhar and human humor mis-steps and insults abound amid the mudfields, tunnels and language lectures.
'Closure' by Paul Cornell is much more serious, as Benny uses the time rings on a mission to prevent a war on another planet. Isabelle, voiced by Sarah Mowatt, is a young woman with a baby who is the centerpoint of her mission. A very strong performance by both actors.
70 minutes.
Highly recommended.