Take a stroll down BBC America's "Street"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The title of this extraordinary six-part BBC America drama series (they don't call them miniseries in the U.K.) may prove a bit misleading because a show titled "The Street" in America would no doubt surround the lives of cops of some sort.

This ensemble drama, by contrast, actually analyzes with compelling zest the lives of a group of otherwise ordinary Brits who live on the same street -- the idea being that you could walk down any street, knock on any door and find everyday folks caught up in fascinating circumstances of one sort or another. The powerful first two hours deal with love and loss with uncommon candor and humanity, taking their sweet time building the tension through wrenching performances rich in character depth.

Created and written by Jimmy McGovern ("Cracker," "Priest") as well as others as the series moves past the initial pair of installments, "The Street" is not only a showcase for talented young scribes but also for a superbly talented ensemble cast that in the first two hours includes

Jane Horrocks of "AbFab" fame as well as "Iris" Oscar winner

Jim Broadbent. It is at points ironic, humane, touching, sad, funny and at all times moving. The British just seem to do this kind of blue-collar drama better than we do because it focuses so realistically on the way real people behave. There is nothing unique or particularly heroic about these people, but their authenticity fairly leaps off the screen.

In the haunting kickoff episode, Horrocks portrays Angela Quinn, a mother of three trapped in a lifeless marriage to a stable but boring working-class bloke named Arthur (Daniel Ryan). In order to keep from losing her marbles, she takes to shagging her also-married neighbor Peter Harper (Shaun Dooley), with whom she indulges in morning sex-and-chocolate romps to escape the monotony of both their lives. Then it all comes crashing down: Peter, while driving down the street, runs over Angela's young daughter Katie with his car. A life-and-death hospital vigil ensues, devastating both families. It ends happily yet without easy answers.

Installment No. 2 focuses on Stan McDermott (Broadbent), a dedicated warehouse foreman who has worked at the same company for more than 40 years and whose dependability you can set your watch to. As he nears 65, however, the company casts him out, and his pension doesn't even cover basic living expenses. He'd need to die to adequately support his wife. So he sets about trying to commit suicide, bungling it repeatedly. For this, his wife Brenda (Sue Johnston) has him committed. But the questions that arise from such a tragic situation don't end there, taking viewers on some surprising twists and turns while treated to Broadbent's masterful work.

So it goes in "The Street," which adroitly blends vivid dialogue with colorful performances to leave you wondering what other great stories might be lurking on this particular little thoroughfare. And if you keep watching, you'll surely find out just that.

Cast:

Angela Quinn: Jane Horrocks

Stan McDermott: Jim Broadbent

Eddie McEvoy:

Timothy Spall

Eileen Harper: Liz White

Peter Harper: Shaun Dooley

Arthur Quinn: Daniel Ryan

Yvonne O'Neill: Christine Bottomley

Sean O'Neill: Lee Ingleby

Brenda McDermott: Sue Johnston

Brian Peterson:

Neil Dudgeon

Executive producers: Sita Williams, Andy Harries, Jimmy McGovern; Producer: Ken Horn; Teleplay: Jimmy McGovern; Director: David Blair; Director of photography: Daf Hobson; Film editor: Edward Mansell; Script editor: Kathryn O'Connor; Composer: Rob Lane; Casting: June West.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter