In Review: Big Finish: The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2

Synopsis: Victorian London harbours many secrets: alien visitors, strange phenomena and unearthly powers.

But a trio of investigators stands ready to delve into such mysteries – the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax.

If an impossible puzzle needs solving, or a grave injustice needs righting, help can be found on Paternoster Row.

But even heroes can never escape their past…

Review: The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2 offers listeners more wonderful adventures with three of Steven Moffat’s most interesting creations. Thanks again to him for allowing Big Finish to bring Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax into the fold.

“Dining with Death” by Dan Starkey is what results when combining Victorian cookbooks with  The Wind in the Willows and adding a dash of Machiavelli in service to satirical comedy. Starkey milks his story of alien diplomacy gone wrong for every opportunity as both a writer and an actor. In the process, he gives the entire cast room to shine.

“The Screaming Ceiling” by Guy Adams is an utterly brilliant send-up of William Hope Hodgson’s Carnacki the Ghost-Finder stories, which listeners can find read wonderfully by Dan Starkey in Big Finish’s Classics Range. All of Hodgson’s tropes are lovingly torn apart and reassembled. Throughout, Joe Jameson gives a full-throttle performance as Thomas Carnacki — a man in over his head.

“Spring-Heeled Jack” by Gemma Arrowsmith is a marvelous story of love, folklore, and Victorian yellow journalism. Joe Sims stands out among a stellar cast as a version of Spring-Heeled Jack that only the Doctor Who universe could produce.

Neve McIntosh, Catrin Stewart, and Dan Starkey continue to demonstrate preternatural chemistry and preternatural comic timing. Listening to them in these roles is like enjoying peanut butter, chocolate, and more chocolate. I can’t wait for The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3.

• You can purchase The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2 here. 

Cast

Neve McIntosh (Madame Vastra), Catrin Stewart (Jenny Flint), Dan Starkey (Strax)

Sophie Cotton (Gwendoline Platt), Daniel Easton (Jimmy), Caroline Guthrie (Anna Campbell), Isabella Inchbald (Elizabeth), Joe Jameson (Carnacki), Polly Kemp (Duchess Callys Flambo / Golp / Brummagem Betty), Glen McCready (Auditor-General Otak Lame / Reyn), Hywel Morgan (Baron Gallos Flambo / Robot Crab), David Shaw-Parker (John Campbell / Dodgson), Joe Sims (Sergeant Grout / Spring-Heeled Jack)

Production Credits

Sound Design Josh Arakelian, Joe Kraemer

Written by Guy Adams, Gemma Arrowsmith, Dan Starkey

Cover Artist Tom Webster

Director Ken Bentley

Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs, Jason Haigh-Ellery

Music Joe Kraemer

Producer David Richardson

Script Editor Matt Fitton

Based on characters created by Steven Moffat