Review: Abigail's Party

Abigail's Party
Ensemble Theatre
Until 2 May
Tickets $23-$59
Bookings (02) 9929 0644
Critic’s Rating 7/10


With pineapple skewers, a rotisserie, Demis Roussos records, fibre lights and orange glass ornaments this production of the 1977 play Abigail’s Party swishes around like a vintage muu muu.

Beverley (Queenie van de Zandt) and her husband, Laurence (Brian Meegan) live at 13 Richmond Road and they’ve invited neighbours around. She is the perfect hostess as she prepares for a nice evening with new arrivals Angela (Tara Morice) and Tony (Ben Ager). We never get to meet 15-year-old Abigail but we can hear the festivities of her own party as her mother, Susan (Julie Hudspeth), seeks refuge at number 13.

This classic British play written by filmmaker Mike Leigh (whose most recent claim to fame was the Oscar-nominated film Vera Drake) is a dark portrayal of the middle class and their aspirations in keeping up appearances.

It’s keeping up appearances at any cost that Leigh frames with such devastating consequences, as the five people come crashing together and Beverley becomes more gregarious.

There’s a great amount of amusement in the design by Graham Maclean. But this fine production directed by Mark Kilmurry, goes past the swirling colours and captures the style of Leigh with its dark undercurrent as the characters come crashing together in the final and very dramatic moments of the play.