Jane Horrocks shines in this little sparkler from British Television. A collection of rude northern types in rude northern dereliction produce acting of a heavenly standard. If you ever get the chance, tape this and keep it forever. I now own two versions of this remarkable play, one taped off TV and quite difficult follow if you don't have the script - but note, the original play was edited for TV. Not only was the language softened to remove swear words, there had to be other changes presumably to accommodate the time the director was given and the locations. However, I have never seen the play on stage and if anyone hears of a revival, please let me know as I am sure this would stand the test of time. It would also be interesting to see if Clarke's own directorial style improves the material or not. Anyway, when I first put a note on IMDb about the TV version it was fondly remembered from one viewing and Jane Horrocks was my stand out memory. looking at it again (several times) it is really hard to pick out one performance. Lesley Sharp's monologue is so remarkable I found it hard to breathe while listening to it and I cannot understand how the camera operator managed to film this without falling over. Mossie Smith transition from granite hard to jelly while 'Try a little Tenderness' is playing cannot fail to take you with her but the fact is that each scene seems to grab your heart. Some of the actors, I think, played a range of roles in stage versions of the play and perhaps this knowledge helped sharpen their work but they were mostly young and still relatively new in their trade yet were more than able to give Jim Cartwright's spittle-flecked words a spectacular airing. Alan Clarke was on top form in Road.
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