Abigail's Party
Stratford East’s new production of Mike Leigh’s 1977 modern classic Abigail's Party has opened this week, and the question on many a theatre goer’s lips would be, will leading lady Tamzin Outhwaite make the iconic role of the somewhat nightmarish Beverly her own? To misquote Beverly, “Actually….she was fantastic!”
Nadia Fall’s production, faithfully recreates 1970’s suburbia, and Beverly and Laurence's home is perfect. The orange curtains and soft furnishings, the shag pile carpet, the telephone, the drinks cabinet, all are perfectly captured. The Encyclopaedia Britannica on the bookshelves, alongside the complete works of Shakespeare, (almost certainly never opened, let alone, one read) are an illustration of how social climbers Laurence and Beverly use, in different ways, appearances to show how different they are from their new neighbours Angela and Tony, along with their art and ‘real leather’ sofa!
This production is an absolute treat. Tamzin Outhwaite is first class as Beverly, however the rest of the cast are also great…”really great”! They work very well together, and each has some lovely comic timing as well as some delicate little touches.
The play, understandably, has some elements which have dated and jar a little, but on the whole, this is a great example of how to highlight the best elements of a well loved, classic play, whilst updating it just enough for a modern audience. The pre-show music, and interval music, being a great example of this. Plenty of 70s disco classics, that many in the audience were clearly enjoying, played at just the right level of volume!
I also loved the almost tableau preludes to the opening of Act 1 and 2. The start of the play, with the statuesque Tamzin, dancing on her own, seductively, to Donna Summer’s ‘Love to Love You Baby’, complete with glitter ball, was especially effective. And the start of Act 2 was also extremely well done, with Beverly drunkenly ‘placing’ her fellow party guests and husband Laurence into different poses, in a brief sequence of Beverly playing out her imagination.
Tamzin is clearly having a ball playing the somewhat grotesque Beverly. We watch her goading her guests, as well as husband Laurence, played superbly by comic actor Kevin Bishop, all the time chain smoking, and necking back the gin and tonic, and dancing to her beloved Demis Roussos in platform heels! She succeeds in making sure that her portrayal of Beverly is not a complete caricature. We also see her boredom, both in her marriage, but also possibly with her lot in life.
A drinks do is being held for Angela and Tony and also divorcee Susan, whose unseen 15 year old daughter Abigail is having a party, which is showing signs of getting out of hand as the evening unfolds. Along with the cheese and pineapple hedgehog, and the cheesy music, the evening bristles with tension.
The three guests are all brilliantly played by Pandora Colin as straightlaced Susan, Omar Malik as the almost monosyllabic Tony, or ‘Tone’, and Ashna Rabheru as mousy Angela. I particularly liked Ashna’s hilarious dancing with Laurence, and Pandora’s subtle facial expressions, as the evening becomes more and more painful. The moment when Susan tells Beverly to shut up, also got a well deserved round of applause!
All in all this show is well worthy of a visit!
This show was reviewed on the 12th September 2024 at Stratford East Theatre, London where it runs until 12th October 2024. Tickets available here: Abigail’s Party (stratfordeast.com)
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
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Photo credit: Mark Senior
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