Review: Abigail’s Party – Northern Stage

Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party is a story of social facades, suburbia and never saying how you really feel. Although it first premiered in 1977, the themes are still relevant today – the unspoken tensions masked under polite conversation and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. As some would say – being quintessentially British.

A cult classic in its own right – made famous by the much-loved ‘Play for Today’ version starring Alison Steadman – this production (directed by Jack Bradfield) had much to measure up to.

As we arrived, the staging (designed by Anna Yates) immediately caught our attention. The entire stage was draped in a 70’s style shaggy carpet, furnished with leather sofas, a kitchen and dining room, finished perfectly with the oh-so posh rotisserie and candelabra.

It evoked an almost 1984–esque Big Brother environment, as we, the audience, observed what looks like a typical gathering between neighbours, yet with hidden complexities gradually unfolding before our eyes.

As the performance began and Donna Summer’s ‘Love to Love You Baby’ played, we were transported back to the 70’s, and ready to witness the excruciating, yet hilarious evening ahead of us.

The story begins with an evening of niceties, agonising small talk and overbearing hospitality, and slowly unravels under the influence of alcohol.

Abigail’s Party exposes the simmering tensions and hidden insecurities of its characters. Tony (played by Joe Blakemore) finding the evening (and his wife, Angela) increasingly intolerable and in turn, Angela (played by Chaya Gupta) becoming more aware of her husband’s questionable, and sometimes cruel, behaviour. Laurence (played by Leander Deeny), a neurotic workaholic who becomes increasingly frustrated after his wife’s nit-picking, and Susan, (played by Amy Rockson) the mother of Abigail, the host of the eponymous party down the road, who simply wants to go home.

A personal highlight however was Laura Rogers’ Beverley, who, of course, was completely insufferable. Yet Rogers’ impeccable portrayal allowed the audience to see glimpses of Beverley’s deep insecurity and vulnerabilities, masked by her ostentatious clothing and crass, domineering behaviour.

The characters all brought a new, rather relatable, element to the show. We’ve all encountered at least one of these people in our lives.

Although the performance is filled with plenty of laughs, darker undertones are woven throughout. With shocks, twists and turns, Abigail’s Party highlights how prejudice is often concealed behind forced smiles and social niceties, reminding us that societal facades can be as brittle as the relationships they hide.

Photography: Pam Raith

www,northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/abigails-party/