Blackpool Grand Theatre – until 26 October 2024
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
If you are excited for a 70’s themed night, then head on over to the Blackpool Grand Theatre to see ‘Abigail’s Party’ before it ends on Saturday 26th October.
Mike Leigh’s intense, awkward and hilarious cult-classic comedy that was first staged at the Hampstead Theatre in London back in 1977 is currently doing the rounds with a breath of new life and is directed by Jack Bradfield the 2023 Winner of the prestigious RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award.
To Beverley, she is the only queen of suburbia so decides to host a cocktail party including new neighbours Angela and Tony as well as Abigail’s mum Susan. Unfortunately, 15-year-old Abigail decides to throw a party of her own next door which no one can seem to stop thinking or talking about so Beverley decides that something must be done about this.
Even though the play is entitled ‘Abigail’s Party’, the audience doesn’t actually see Abigail or anything that is happening at her party but centres around just the one place, Beverley’s house which becomes a pressure-cooker of emotions as she pushes her husband Laurence to the limit.
This play is more about 1970s life in suburbia and the exploits of an evening with overindulgence of alcohol, cigarettes and cigars with Beverley trying to be the perfect hostess including a bit of flirtation, Laurence’s constant stress and loss of temper (due mostly to Beverly’s behaviour), Tony’s bluntness at Angela’s ditziness and poor Susan who has drunk too much.
The cast is small with only 5 actors with Laura Rogers (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, West End) portraying the neurotic Beverley, Leander Deeny (Wuthering Heights, China Plate) as Beverly’s downtrodden husband Laurence, Amy Rockson (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story) as their next door neighbour Susan and mother to the infamous Abigail and finally Chaya Gupta (The Government Inspector, Marylebone Theatre) and Joe Blakemore (The Hunt for Raoul Moat, ITV) as their new neighbours Angela and Tony. Even though the cast is perfect for this production and ensured that the audience were entertained throughout the evening, for me, Leander’s portrayal of Laurence was just captivating.
Special thanks also needs to go to Sound Designer Jamie Lu, Lighting Designer Joshua Gadsby, Costume Designer Naomi Daley and Designer Anna Yates. The set for Abigail’s Party has everything that makes the play what it is, and there’s plenty of room for dancing later on. It’s Beverly’s house with a shag carpet, real leather sofas (wrapped in plastic of course), table with candelabra, pineapple and cheese sticks, a ‘posh’ kitchen with rotisserie, mini bar with turntable, toilet, washer and dryer and even Laurence’s Mini.
As for why the play remains so popular, we can confirm it’s still so relatable – that the desire to fit in has never gone away, and we all need clever comedy like this every now and then.