Playing at The Lace Market Theatre until 27th July, Abigail’s Party is the last play in this high standard amateur theatre’s Spring/Summer season. It’s a cracking production and understandably sold out this week. Check with their box office to see if there are any returns. You won’t regret it.
Mike Leigh’s comedy drama has great appeal for the dark-comedy voyeur in us that, thank our lucky stars, we have not been put in the position of being invited, in the real world, to this little cheese and pineapple (and olives for those who like olives) drinks soiree around at Beverly and Laurence Moss’s on Richmond Road. Within its playing time of just over two hours including interval the notion of just a few drinks to meet the neighbours turns into a party from hell. If seeing others suffer socially in a play is your bag then this play is perfect for you. And it is darned funny to boot. It’s the 1970s and Mike Leigh’s superbly drawn characters are as colourful as Beverly’s bad taste in cushions, wallpaper and Demis Roussos records.
Last performed at The Lace Market in 2009 this July 2024 production boasts a fantastically detailed set by David Babington and is superbly directed by Jonathan Cleaver. Cleaver’s cast are exceptional and wring every tiny comedic and dramatic nuance out of their character’s behaviours, foibles and lines. Playing comedy as a straight drama is the way to do it and this sterling production does it in spades. I don’t say this very often but watching this show tonight genuinely feels like watching a professional theatre production.
Danielle Easter gives us her superbly confident version of Beverly the snobbish hostess with the ghost of a common guttersnipe lurking beneath the swishing red glamour, long cigarettes and constant Gin and Tonics on the go. Her lusty interactions around the settee with Tony (Paul Spruce) are incredibly well actualised and cringingly very funny. Spruce nails the virtually mono-syllabic and socially uncomfortable character of Tony to perfection. His embittered short replies to questions about his married life with Angela are perfectly timed and speak volumes about how he really feels underneath the forced politeness. This audience seem to love his portrayal.
Luke Willis is perfectly cast as the over-worked and put upon husband Laurence Moss. His nasal verbalisations and physical explosions in the second act cause some audience members to gasp as if the strongly hinted at ‘violence’ acted out is real. That’s when theatre works – when audience members are so committed to the pretend lives on stage they forget they are sat in the theatre. And for that to happen the acting has to be truthful and top notch. And it is.
Kareena Sims gives her role as the ditzy nurse Angela real depth with her eager-to-please, bent-over, splay-legged – happy-to-knock-back-the- free- booze, head nodding acquiescent personality. Sims is a highly accomplished actress and it is a delight to see her back on the Lace Market stage and in Abigail’s Party she is a total hoot as Angela.
For those who know the play – even from the first classic version on the telly – you will know that the last guest to arrive clutching an expensive red wine gift at chez Moss is Susan (Charlie Osborne). Susan’s teenage daughter Abigail is having her own rather wild party down the road and as time goes on we hear it is getting more and more out of control. Osborne completely convinces as the intelligent divorcee trying to mix with the other guests and hosts and her discomfort is clear as she is too polite to stop Beverly foisting drinks on her throughout the first act. Even from Osborne’s first brilliant look of social faux pas betrayal as the red wine is put in the fridge and, her growing regret at accepting Beverly’s party invite, we at least know we are in for a hilariously good time at Mike Leigh’s characters’ expense. “Now who likes olives? I like olives… Beverly?”
Photo credits: Kathryn Edwards and Grace Eden.
