Abigail’s Party was originally written in 1977 by playwright Mike Leigh as a stage play, but to anyone of a certain age, it will bring back memories of the hugely popular televised version of that same year. In that “Play for Today” version, Leigh’s then wife Alison Steadman pretty much made her name playing monstrous lead character Beverly, host for the evening’s entertainment. And it is back to 1977 that the Theatre by the Lake takes you for its adaptation.
The scene, according to Mike Leigh, is a suburban street on “the London side of Essex.” Ex-beautician Beverly, who has lived in the street a short time with estate agent husband Laurence, is hosting a party for new neighbours Angela and Tony, along with long-time resident Susan, whose teenaged daughter Abigail is having a party of her own a few doors down (despite the play being named after her, we never see Abigail). The get-together starts in typically stiff and reserved British manner as the characters engage in pointless small talk – “Do you have fitted carpets?”; “We had a big tea before we came out, what about you?” But it’s not long before a few drinks have been sunk and tongues start to loosen, at which point the typically British, class-oriented social interplay comes to the fore. Beverly and Laurence represent the new, relatively affluent middle classes, but have vastly different opinions on how one should behave. Angela and Tony are the working class couple who’ve gate-crashed a previously genteel neighbourhood, whilst divorcee Susan (she was married to an architect, don’t you know) is the educated, sophisticated upper middle class person that Laurence would like to be, Beverly probably looks down on and Angela just doesn’t understand. And so Beverly and Laurence snipe at each other, Laurence snipes at Angela and Tony, Angela snipes (without realising it) at Susan, whilst Susan stays largely quiet and rather embarrassed, and Tony stays largely quiet, sometimes embarrassed and increasingly menacing. Inevitably, things must come to a head, and they most definitely do, at which point the characters begin to show who they really are.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the bossy, domineering Beverly, occasionally flirtatious and comely, frequently pushy and obnoxious, and played superbly by Polly Lister. Richard Earl, who capably plays hen pecked but equally combative husband Laurence, will be familiar to regular patrons to the Theatre by the Lake, as will Frances Marshall who plays Angela with a suitable degree of innocence. Jonny McPherson, who brilliantly plays monosyllabic Tony with a hint of Del-boy swagger, may be recognised by some as the local GP on Emmerdale, although I couldn’t possibly comment on that! As ever, the acting is simply first class and regular belly laughs are guaranteed, probably because much of the play hits so close to home – although I do hope we’ve moved on a bit since the 1970s! Add in some funky 70s sounds and fashions, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening is liable to be had by all – even accounting for the uncomfortable ending (but if you don’t know about that already, best to come and see the play for yourself). Buy your tickets now from www.theatrebythelake.com or call the box office on 017687 74411
