For those who cannot get enough of Playhouse 90, I would like to introduce you to a hard-hitting program that aired in England from April to May of 1976. The program is title Plays for Britain and the six hour-long episodes are both compelling and provocative. In “Paradise Run,” Johnny joined the Army because he liked canoeing. Now he finds himself in the middle of a strife-torn city and discovers other qualities are necessary to survive. In “The Lifeswappers,” things have gotten so bad for Trevor – rotten job, bitchy wife – he decides to answer a “life-swapping” ad in the local paper. But this science-fiction tale literally means swapping bodies and identities – Princess Anne? Linda Lovelace? Who knows where it could this darkly-comic take would end?
In the episode “Sunshine in Brixton,” 16-year-old Otis loathes school. He wants to be a professional footballer, but is good at drawing, so his mother wants him to become a draftsman. When, a new sports teacher appears at his South London comprehensive school, and life starts to look a little more hopeful… In “Fast Hands,” Jimmy is a talented young boxer. Every punch he throws is eagerly watched by his trainer and resented by his girlfriend. His parents, however, are not particularly interested – until a large car and what appears to be a handsome contract arrive at the door.
In “Hitting Town,” Ralph decides to give his sister Clare a night on the town to cheer her up. They visit a burger bar and a disco in a modern precinct, and Clare gets slightly drunk. At the end of the evening, they both end up at Clare’s flat. The intense portrayal of siblings who find refuge from their bleak lives in one incestuous night is one to spawn controversy. In “Shuttlecock,” Sam likes his children to be grown-up chaps. So nine-year-old Harry is at a disadvantage in the battle of wits that develops.
The entire series is now available commercially on DVD, in PAL format from England. I watched one episode per night for the past week and while not every episode is a gem, there were at least two that I found to be fantastic stories. Basically this is a British version of Playhouse 90, with each episode meant to strike a nerve and spawn discussion and controversy. Rekindling my love for anthology programs is the biggest compliment I could give this series, worth watching if you love British television.
