Jake's Progress

This mini series is currently being run for the 3rd time on Australian TV, and despite air-time being after midnight, I'm stilled glued to it, in awe of the writing and the performances.

Nothing works without excellent writing, and Alan Bleasdale delivered a ripper with `Jake's Progress'. Robert Lindsay as the irresponsible, forever adolescent Jamie, Julie Walters (always brilliant in my view) as the harrassed Julie, Dorothy Tutin as the frightened and bewildered Nanna, and of course, Barclay Wright as Jake, contribute so much to this magnificent and unique TV series. (My early 20's son couldn't watch it - `There's that scary kid again', was his comment whenever Barclay Wright came on the screen!)

See it, or you may never know how incredible a TV series can be!

It's all too easy to create drama by unreal events, you see this every day on TV - car chases, explosions, shootouts and so on. Bleasdale doesn't need these gimmicks, his magic is to highlight the drama that exists in all our lives. We have all seen how nasty sibling rivalry can get, the temptations to stray from marriage, great weight being made of thoughtless words and the jokes that go wrong. This is the stuff that touches us all and it is the thread from which Bleasdale, the master plot weaver, creates his dramas.

Bleasdfales "Boys from 'The Black Stuff'" was a great series that has become a British TV icon. 'GBH' also made a great mark. But, for me, 'Jakes Progress' is his masterpiece. Maybe it is just because I can relate to the Diadoni family better than I can relate to Chrissie, Yosser etc from 'The Black Stuff', but I'm sure millions of other people can. What I do know is that this is great, riveting drama that will draw on all your emotions. Where is it all going to end up? Just like real life, we don't know.

After a 5 years delay, I've seen the show. It's the first Bleasdale show I've seen and I believe this is one of the deepest, touching (not to mention dark) and original works ever produced for T.V. It made me go back in my memory to my childhood and discover hidden spaces in the human soul. All thanks to the incredible use of language and human observation by Alan Bleasdale (and of course, all the cast), who for me, is the greatest living screenwriter today, together with Jimmy Mcgovern.

High praise indeed, but it's not unwarranted. Bleasdale's script elicits dread, fury, revulsion, pity, tenderness, and roaring laughter. Even when you're pretty sure you know what's going to happen, Bleasdale can deliver the expected with a twist that rips either your heart or your guts out. And the acting? Bleasdale's ensemble of Robert Lindsay, Julie Walters, and Lindsay Duncan are unequalled -- and Dorothy Tutin deserves raves as Walter's mother. This one is aces all round. Give an A+ to the director also, for excellent pacing.

A very dark comedy with outstanding contributions from all cast members and ferociously well-written. Having watched it again for the first time in years (knowing how it ends) I noticed many many clever moments; lines, motifs and parallels between character circumstances. It gets better with each watching. One of my favourite series' ever - I'm surprised more people aren't aware of it.