Abigail’s Party, Stratford East Review
Ashna Rabheru, Tamzin Outhwaite and Pandora Colin in Abigail's Party at Stratford East. Photo by Mark Senior.
Written by Philip for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Set in Essex in 1977, Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party is a satirical comedy that casts a lens on the changing social classes of the time and the birth of the new middle class, alongside marital squabbles, outrageous flirting and material wealth.
We join Beverly Moss as she prepares for a party with her husband Laurence. She has pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks, her drinks cabinet fully stocked and her record player at the ready. While awaiting their neighbours Angela and Tony who have recently moved into the area and Sue, a divorcee who has lived there a long time, Beverley remarks that Laurence must take some time to relax, or it could have bad implications for his health. This topic comes back to haunt the pair later.
When all five neighbours join the soirée, we are treated to much hilarity as there appears to be constant sparring and one-upmanship especially from Beverley and Laurence between themselves and against their neighbours. You sit and watch a car crash of an evening unfold. Beverley lords it over all those in her ‘domain’, making sure everyone knows she is Queen Bee and putting Laurence in his place every chance she gets. Laurence also seems to like to prove he is more middle class than those around him by always talking about the arts, classical music, and history. Although it seems most of this is just a façade. Angela shows childlike delight and excitement about the evening even when Beverley is being completely patronising. Her husband, Tony appears rather disinterested in the whole affair shifting uncomfortably when Beverley flirts with him under his wife’s nose. Poor Sue, who has grace and decorum only decided to join the gathering as her daughter Abigail was having a party of her own. You watch these five people with conflicting personalities try to spend a pleasant evening together but with disastrous consequences.
Leigh’s play takes a look at the social class system of the 1970s and the rise of the new ‘middle class’. Although all live on the same street, each set of characters is at their own stage in climbing the social ladder. Leigh is clever enough to focus even more closely than that though. You can see the different social levels that appear within the couples themselves. It really is fascinating to watch. The characters and the words are rooted in realism. Though the characters are obviously heightened versions of people you’d find in everyday life - they are not quite caricatures either. You can’t help but sit and laugh at the funny and real things these people say. The script is witty and tight. Each character, Beverley in particular has repeated words and phrases that make you giggle as you think about how relatable the characters are.
The cast are all exceptionally talented. They all shine when they have their moment. Kevin Bishop plays long suffering husband Laurence. He is pompous and quite under the thumb. You can’t help but feel sorry for him for being married to Beverley. Bishop is a delight to watch. Angela and Tony are like chalk and cheese. Angela is full of wonder and youthful energy. Ashna Rabheru captures these qualities excellently. Omar Malik as Tony is the polar opposite. He is awkward and aloof. Malik is a master of comedy. Sometimes all it took was a look to make the audience giggle. Pandora Colin’s Sue is uptight and mild mannered. The politest guest. Like Malik, all Colin needs is a look or gesture to cause a giggle from the audience. She is so polite and cannot help but be pushed around by the party’s host. You feel sorry for her. The stage of the show though is Tamzin Outhwaite who is brilliant as Beverley. She is catty and combative yet seductive and wickedly funny. Beverley is not a character you should like but you cannot help it due to Outhwaite’s portrayal. She is so scintillating
This comedy drama is one hell of a night out. You sit and laugh while feeling smug that you are only a bystander and do not have to suffer this gathering yourself and though you never meet the titular Abigail you almost certainly know that you would rather be at her party instead. It is satire at its best. If you need a compelling, interesting, and astoundingly funny evening at the theatre - this play is for you.
Abigail’s Party plays at the Stratford East Theatre until Saturday 12th October
★ ★ ★ ★
