The Afternoon Play: Series 3, Episode 5 – “The Singing Cactus” (2005)

 

The Afternoon Play is an anthology program, like Dramarama or The Comic Strip Presents, where each episode is its own self-contained story.  “The Singing Cactus” is the first piece I’ve seen from the show, and I enjoyed it a lot.  The title was of course intriguing, and the episode, as it happens, is an odd, sweet coming-of-age tale.

 

John, a fatherless Liverpool lad, has always believed in magic.  Raised on the folktales his dad’s friend Billy used to tell him, John still clings to magic to explain the difficult things in his life.  Lately, much to the chagrin of his therapist, he’s been obsessed with the idea of returning his potted cactus to its home in the New Mexico desert.  It’s a Hopi “singing” cactus, understand: enchanted by a rainmaker and imbued with power.  John is convinced that removing the cactus from its sacred ground has left his family cursed – he blames it for the accident that killed his father when he was a toddler.

 

As Billy Shannon, PC plays the closest thing John has ever had to a father, the only stable male influence amidst his mother’s string of boyfriends.  Together, they talk nature and cowboys and magic.  In everything, Billy tries to look out for John, a trait that John doesn’t always notice or appreciate.

 

Billy is a really engaging, likable character.  He’s an understated friend/father figure, and PC radiates warmth in the role.  Whether Billy and John are joking, talking seriously, or arguing, the dynamic between them is excellent.  Also, Billy is into Morris dancing, an old-fashioned type of English folkdance that comes complete with outfits to wear and handkerchiefs to wave stylishly.

 

Last note – “The Singing Cactus” has a fantastic soundtrack that it puts to good use.  In addition to really nice covers of “Wonderwall” and “Let It Be,” it includes the Johnny Cash version of “Hurt” (which I always adore.)

 

Accent Watch

 

Since this story takes place in Liverpool, we’re talking Scouse.  Middling, I’d say – the vowels sound pretty good, but it doesn’t seem to maintain that particular cadence that Scouse accents have.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Yes; I enjoyed this quite a bit.  Likeable characters, an interesting story, and some fine acting.

 

PC-wise – I think so.  PC does a really nice job with this appealing role.

 

Warnings

 

A little drinking and smoking, and a few light sexual references.