By Anne Brodie
Ladies over forty, there’s finally a highly entertaining series aimed squarely at us and boy does it hit! Right in the heart and brain. The Riot Women concerns four women, empty nesters, in different marital places and at loose ends as to how to re-ignite their lives. They are Beth (Joanna Scanlan), Kitty (Rosalie Craig), Jess (Lorraine Ashbourne) and Holly (Tamsin Greig). Now Beth’s opening scenes are distressing, she’s trying to hang herself; her husband went off with another woman, and she’s taken out insurance and sold the house to leave money to her indifferent son. But twice the phone interrupts her. It’s bestie Jess – she’s starting a punk rock band and insists Beth play keyboards. Meanwhile homeless stumblebum drunk Kitty is in the grocery store, downing vodka and pills. Copper Holly shows up and understands she’s having a bad day; Beth lets Kitty, a terrific singer as it goes, stay the night at hers. Beautifully paced, written and performed, with heart and realism discussing issues facing middle age, “as one menopausal woman to another”, ill parents, iffy children, loneliness, job issues, sense of abandonment etc., from the point of view of these four souls, galvanised by the idea of performing together – “loud and angry”. Its not sentimental, just authentic, ballsy and oh so relatable. Then wannabe and entitled Yvonne (Amelia Bullmore) shows up – she wants in. With just one week to the contest, they’re now five and off to the races with any luck. Top notch script, true performances – a heart swelling six parter. Highly recommended. Begins streaming on BritBox tonight!!!
Streams tonight on BritBox