Abigail’s Party

By Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh’s Iconic play is set in the 1977. There were only two  television channels and ITV staff were on strike. Everyone watched the West End sell out play “Abigail’s Party” on the BBC with Alison Steadman in the lead, it set the  nation alight.

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee is being celebrated throughout the nation and Commonwealth. Red Rum has won the Grand National for the third time. Everyone is humming “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees from the smash hit movie “Saturday Night Fever” which is playing day and night on the pirate radio station Radio Caroline.

Suburbanites Laurence and Beverly are entertaining their new neighbours Angela and Tony to drinks and snacks. Also invited is Susan, whose teenage daughter, Abigail, is giving a party at which her mother would be less than welcome.

At first, good will and fatuous small talk abound; but the sense of growing marital strain between Beverly and Laurence, Susan’s growing anxiety as to what is happening at her daughter’s party (increasingly evident  through the sound of rock music penetrating the room!), and the supreme tactlessness of various remarks by Beverly and Angela generate a rising tension.

This smug suburban world is finally shattered when horrific reality breaks through the comfortable facade and what promises to be a pleasant evening turns out to be a drinks party from hell!

This timeless black comedy of manners will leave you squirming,cringing and roaring with laughter as you return, for most of you, to a happy suburban home…??

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