The Street.
August 11th, 2009Well, having an appreciation and huge respect for excellent acting I just need to give credit to The Street. My oh my what a series! The writing is excellent (as always, Jimmy McGovern) and the performances are out of this world.
Last night saw a storyline about Shay (played by Stephen Graham), an alcoholic who finds out he has a 16 year old son with Downs Syndrome.
It was hard work watching this programme as Graham’s performance was top notch and made for very uncomfortable and distressing viewing. His drunken treatment of his son and those around him was utterly disgusting and reached boiling point a few times where I thought I was going to have to turn off. Thankfully it was having a son which finally made Shay release himself from alcoholism, but the viewer was made to wait until the very end for this to happen which I think is testament to how good this programme is because they don’t just go for the happy stuff too soon - they make you work for it.
I felt like I’d been put through a wringer after I had watched it but I am just in awe of the performances and the guts that this programme has.
I remember an episode from the last series when Toby Kebbell, an excellent actor, absolutely rocked as his character told a chilling story about his childhood.
And Anna Friel, Jonas Armstrong and all the performers this series have been excellent so jolly well done!
Anyway I don’t really know where I am going with this but basically long may The Street continue as it’s one of the few programmes at the moment which has any balls. Hooray.
Can’t wait for Timothy Spall next week, boo hiss it’s the last in the series!