There he is alarmed to discover that the lunatics have taken over the asylum!
Originally realeased in 1986
as part of the second season of
audio plays from Audio Visuals
(a non-profit-making fan organisation).
Richard Marson had left the ensemble and so I came up with the idea of the character of Greg being ill, speaking only lines that could be lifted from other stories and unused segments. Secondly, Ria, the new companion had to be introduced. In Sam Flint's The Mutant Phase (recorded prior to but released after Maenad), the idea of her unique physiology and the name of the Tri-Planet Alliance of Calfodoria had been established. I had to 'work backwards' to fit these concepts in.
Once more, I borrowed heavily from sources -
most obviously, the classic Cocteau
film-noir The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. One
point of interest, Kranten was originally a
man, but Gary Russell decided that a flirtatious
'old friend' would be far more interesting.
Ann O'Neill, a mutual friend, is an
SRN in real life! Warren Martyn, May '92
This play was another victim of the theft which cost AV many of its master tapes. For Maenad, director Gary Russell saw this as a blessing. It gave him and Jim Mortimore an opportunity to tidy up a few loose ends. Some lines of over-melodramatic dialogue were removed and more music cues were added. Owen Parker was credited as composer on the original tapes sleeve, but was unable to fulfil his commitment. Maenad's original score and the additional cues were composed and played by Jim Mortimore.
This was Patricia Merrick's first
'appearance' as companion Ria, and the last
play to feature Richard Marson as Greg Holmes,
albeit in out-takes and unused lines
from Cloud of Fear
and Shadow World.
Both characters appear in
The Mutant
Phase, but portrayed by different actors.
Announcer | Roxy Boulter |
Dr Kranten | Ann O'Neill |
The Doctor | Nicholas Briggs |
Chi'ian Rayden | Anthony Dexter |
Draconian Ambassador | Colin Brake |
Kantrian Commissioner | Jason Haigh-Ellery |
Channon | Suzanne Barrett |
Anton Luther | Andrew Beech |
Ria | Patricia Merrick |
Greg Holmes | Richard Marson |
Script | Warren Martyn |
Music | Jim Mortimore |
Series Theme | Brian Marshall |