Review: Abigail's Party (Stratford East)
- Sam - Admin
- Sep 13, 2024
- 3 min read
Review by Dan Sinclair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Since 2017, Nadia Fall has been at the helm of one of the boldest theatres in London, Stratford East, and before she heads off to run the Young Vic she’s squeezed in one final production, Abigail’s Party. Mike Leigh’s 1977 play has earned a reputation as an am-dram classic, you’ll see it performed in village halls and regional theatres up and down the country. It’s a people pleaser that often gets by with the nostalgia factor alone. You’ve got shag carpets, cheese and pineapple on a stick, punk rock and kitsch everywhere you look. Nadia Fall’s exceptional revival reminds us that Abigail’s Party is also a piercing slice-of-life comedy.
As we take our seats, we’re greeted with tacky curtains and a disco/Kate Bush megamix, it’s the late 1970’s baby. Elvis is still (barely) the King of Rock and Roll, punk is on the rise and Thatcher is making plans for her ascent, England is ready for a big change. 15 year old Abigail is throwing a party, the music is cranked up and the older boys are shipping in from far and wide. Her mother Susan is just a few doors down at the seemingly more refined party at Beverly and Laurence’s house. Beverly, the demonic hostess with the mostess has invited round the new neighbours, Tony and Angela for a few drinks. As it turns out, Anarchy in the UK is not to be found at the punk rock party, but right in the heart of this suburban home.
The genius of Fall’s revival lies in the casting of Omar Malik and Ashna Rabheru as the young couple Tony and Angela. Only briefly discussed head-on by Laurence in one uncomfortable exchange, Britain is a changing nation. Families from all across the commonwealth came to the UK in this period, it was a time full of hope and possibility for these young people seeking a new life. Forging ahead as young immigrants in the UK, they were then greeted by that uniquely British form of racism. Beverly’s drinks and nibbles party proves to be a demonstration of this clash. There is nothing explicitly stated, but it doesn’t need to be. Laurence chuckles about Tony not liking curry, Beverly’s advances on Tony become tainted with fetishisation, and there are snide comments about the neighbourhood changing. It’s a thinly veiled racism that is bubbling away just under the surface, waiting to erupt.
Mike Leigh himself describes the play as a tragicomedy, it’s a clever satire on consumerism, and also hilarious. As Beverly, Tamzin Outhwaite does everything in her power to keep the party going. She is a comedic genius, her timing and delivery are second to none and she masterfully steers this party headfirst into an iceberg. Kevin Bishop takes up the role of Laurence, her pedantic but sinister husband, Bishop balances the laughs with a genuine threat underneath. This comes to the forefront for an audience (and the party guests) in a small fight choreographed by Bret Yount. It’s small, but a nudge towards the relationship that lies beneath the jokes and jibes.
The hints to abuse are even more clearly shown in the marriage between Tony and Angela. Every joke lands, but there is the occasional moment where you see a real sadness behind the eyes of Ashna Rabheru. It’s always concealed with a gaumless smile and a one-liner, but it’s always there. As the titular mother of Abigail, Pandora Colin’s Susan is hilarious. Constantly plied with ‘little’ top ups of gin from Beverly, she is a swan on a lake - a graceful cardgidan wearing single mother on the top, but a frantically paddling mess under the water. Whilst the other four descend into depraved beasts, she stays calm and reasonable until enough is enough.
For Fall’s final show at Stratford, she has chucked everything and the kitchen sink into the production value. It may be a one-room comedy of manners, but there’s smoke machines, strobe lighting, pulsing music and a giant disco ball. It’s undeniably a fantastic night out. The design across the board is one word - FUN. This production gives a whole new lease of life to a British classic: it’s a love letter to immigrant families across the country and an uncomfortable mirror to everyone else. Would I watch it again? Yes, in a heartbeat. Abigail’s party is the most exciting on the street, but maybe pop in to Beverly’s for some ice and a slice.
Abigail’s Party is showing at Stratford East until 12th October.
Photos by Mark Senior
