Tags
BBC Scotland, Emma Thompson, Glasgow, John Byrne, Maurice Roeves, Richard Wilson, Robbie Coltrane, Tony Smith, Tutti Frutti, TV Drama Series
Oh glorious, hysterically funny knife edging with pain and tragedy simultaneously
I remember being GLUED to this when it was first broadcast, and again on a rerun some I think 10 years later…..but like its many other fans was left wanting the ability to watch again (and again!) whenever I, as opposed to the schedulers, wanted.
It felt at the time a remarkable programme, all credit to John Byrne’s script, Tony Smith’s direction, Andy Park’s production and performances by a fabulous, stellar cast, headed by Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson, who are well matched in the scene-stealing stakes by the likes of Richard Wilson, Katy Murphy, and particularly Maurice Roeves as the hellishly accident and prostrate-by-lust prone lead guitarist Vincent.
The fortunes of the never quite made it 60s rock and roll band the Majestics, desperately still trying to scratch a living in the 80s, receding hairlines, middle-aged bellies and all is a fabulous mix of the gritty and fantastical.
Curiously, whilst being AS enamoured of it as I was back in 86 I have a bit more trouble with some of the very fast paced exchanges – Back in the 80s I travelled round more, including some time spent working in Glasgow, so had no problems in comprehending what was said. Glaswegian – in common with pretty well all city accents, is delivered at a lick, so it can take a little while to adjust your ears – and with dialogue this tight and punchy, delivered with a fast and furious throw away, you really won’t want to miss a single line ! Nice that DVDs offer a subtitle if you need it – though I prefered to watch each episode a couple of times to make sure I’ve missed nothing – the performances warrant that anyway. They are that good.
However, for those without access to Region 2 Players, a cut up version exists of the whole series on You Tube I’ve linked Episode 1, Part 1 which will give a taster or the wonderful juxtaposition of mordant humour, pathos, wit , strange and wonderful images – and great music. But, be warned, the You Tube videos are not subtitled, – plus it IS annoying to run to the end of a clip every 5 minutes or so and have to search for the next Part of the same episode to watch
There are some similarities with another BBC Scotland production of the 90s – which 
equally carved out a sure road in black comedy, heartbreak and searing performances, balancing realism with something on the tightrope of caricature – edgy, brave, on the edge work Takin’ Over The Asylum [1994] [DVD] This latter once again with the wonderful Katy Murphy, Ken Stott and a beautiful, vulnerable lead performance from a young David Tennant.
BBC Scotland, you rock!
Tutti Frutti Amazon UK
Tutti Frutti Amazon USA
However, for those across the pond, this marvellous series, whilst available, is only for those with Region 2/Europe Players
Rocked – past tense. It’s been a long time since anything stellar came out of BBC Scotland, I fear…
Oh what a shame. That must have been a little golden period. Its the cuts, the cuts, seventeen varieties of reality TV, 95 spin offs of the little second cousin 17 times removed house and celebrity come knit a jumper quiz shows that have done for some stunning dramas, both North and South. Ah, Our friends from the North (another fine fine serial, where are you now – transmogrified into our Facetwit fans from who cares where!
Yes okay okay 8 days of living out of boxes and tripping over builders stuff has soured my sweet and mystical fervour. Only a day or so to go (till the next lot) and i can recover the beetroot, the demples, the samovar and the wodka and invite the Georgian choir over for a cabbage supper, whilst we all bay weepingly at the moon and toast the black, rich, soil of Mother Russia (well, they can, , I’ll be scrubbing my fingernails to get rid of the ingrained builder’s rubble. If I can remember which box I packed the nailbrush in
That explains it. I DID know this in some part of my brain. You’re in Scotland. I raise a golden glass to you.
Here’s tae the heath, the hill and the heather,
The bonnet, the plaid, the kilt and the feather.
Did I get it right?
Oh dear, about 600 miles out I’m afraid – the lass who taks the high road is Fiction Fan, me, I’m one of the chattering classes who resides in our fair English capital city, so you need to be saying fings like ‘strewf luv a duck ain’t it time you went up the apples and pairs to bed, any any old iron, my ole man said follow the van and don’t dilly dally on the way.
I must admit the heath the hill and the heather are much prettier.
No Fiction Fan and the rest wouldn’t HAVE me in Scotland.
However, London has charms enough of its own. I have a sneaking sense its the centre of the known world. Noisy, dirty, gross in the rush hour, all that for sure – but whatever you might be into, London will have it.
Yep, its the old ‘he who is tired of London is tired of life’ syndrome. And there’s even a welter of green spaces, heaths, parks, hidden spots of silence to escape to.
“went up the apples and pears to bed”?! Ah, the poetry of everyday metaphor.
It’s been years since I’ve been to London. Memories. Perhaps we’ll get there this year if we go to the Adriatic this summer.