Cast
The show stars Wendy Craig as frustrated 'stay at home' housewife, Ria Parkinson and Geoffrey Palmer as her reserved dentist husband, Ben. Ria's early dialogue in the first series suggests her age as early 40's whereas her husband, Ben, quotes himself to be "the wrong side of 45", suggesting an age of 46/47. Ben is a typically traditional, conservative white-collar professional, ill at ease with either of his sons' lack of work-ethics and carefree post-punk attitudes (the series starts in 1978) whilst remaining unaware of his wife's impending mid-life crisis. They have been married for 19 years and are depicted as having a comfortable life-style, supported by one bread-winner in the household at a time in British history when 'stay at home' housewives were becoming less common.
The Parkinsons have two sons, both of driving age (at least 17 years of age under UK law in 1978) and unemployed. (In 1978 England was heading towards recession under Prime Minister, James Callaghan, with youth unemployment on the increase.) Their youngest son, Adam, is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst and their older son, Russell, by Andrew Hall. Bruce Montague plays Ria's friend Leonard, a successful businessman, aged 44 whose wife has recently left him and is like Ria Parkinson, approaching his own mid-life crisis. The show also featured two recurring minor characters: Leonard's chauffeur and confidant Thomas (Michael Ripper) and the Parkinsons' cleaner, Ruby (Joyce Windsor), who often lent Ria an ear.
Read more about this topic: Butterflies (TV series)
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