Share: It’s 1977 and Beverly is throwing a little party for her neighbours: newlyweds Tony and Angela, and divorcee Sue. Beverly's husband Laurence comes home late from work, just before the guests arrive. Beverly plies her guests with alcohol as Sue becomes increasingly withdrawn and embarrassed by the pretentious goings-on. 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, "Mike Leigh on Abigail's Party at 40: 'I was sure it would sink without trace, "Play for Today (TV Series) | Abigail's Party (1977) | Trivia", "Alison Steadman: We've all got a bit of Beverly in us", "Programmes | Newsnight | Review | Abigail's Party", "Mike Leigh: Cruel chronicler of suburbia's nasty secrets and lies", "Abigail's Party, our free DVD, remains a landmark in TV drama", "Jill Halfpenny: the life and soul of Abigail's Party", The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abigail%27s_Party&oldid=1008432455, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 February 2021, at 07:47. I don’t have any idea what the last line of this is supposed to mean. It is a play rather than a film. Abigail's Party is a play for stage and television, devised and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh. Awkwardness abounds with two unhappy couples and an out of place divorcee; awkwardness, embarrassment, social incompetence and a lack of thought by most of them for the feelings of others.It's a horror story pretending to be a drama and will make most people feel very uncomfortable as the small talk progresses. The banal conversation pieces, the use of dialect and vernacular (some antiquated, some still so drearily modern!) Starring Jill Halfpenny as Beverly, Joe Absolom as Tony, Natalie Casey as Angela, Susannah Harker as Sue and Andy Nyman as Laurence, it subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre in the West End. It might also be a horror film. Cast & Creative; Synopsis . The television version was abridged from over two hours to 104 minutes; the record played by Beverly in the original stage production was "Light My Fire" by José Feliciano and in the TV production it was the 1976 hit "Forever and Ever" by Demis Roussos – Leigh had to replace nearly all the music with artists recorded on British labels, for copyright reasons, in case the BBC sold the play to the United States. As a play (and Abigail's Party is a play, captured before the TV cameras, rather than a film) Abigail's Party is a metaphor for life. Most of it reminds me when you go to a social thing and then you realize your face hurts in the end from involuntarily forcing yourself to smile for a very long time. Abigail’s Party was the play that confirmed the talents of writer/director Mike Leigh and his then wife, actress Alison Steadman, who had previously collaborated on an earlier Play for Today, Nuts in May (1976). The stage play was first performed at the Hampstead Theatre on 18 April 1977, enjoying great success, leading to a revival over the summer of that year, which was another sellout.[1]. Trapped at a party or gathering that she absolutely does not want to be at and seeing absolutely no way that she could possibly escape. Laurence's accent, more non-descript and less regional, makes him sound slightly more educated, while Sue's is much nearer to Received Pronunciation. "Abigail's Party" new casting for Whitehall transfer in April 03. must be experienced to be believed. Some of it is absolutely brilliant, but it does feel like it's stretched a little thin. David Mutton Cinematography. and some want to be more for both reasons, even though they’d never admit it to themselves or anyone. The terrain is "the London side of Essex", "theoretical Romford" according to Leigh. Jill Halfpenny and Nathalie Casey in Abigail’s Party. But I'm a Cheapskate! This…, Sally Jane Black 126 films 592 53 Edit. The play was aired on BBC, a popular channel for the British middle class. Went through the links to see which ones are still good--so if there's one missing you saw earlier--it was too…, The subreddit /r/TrueFilm voted for a canon of 1000 films in April 2018. Main cast. They also invite Susan (Thelma Whiteley), another neighbour. it’s a comedy, but also a wrenching horror about the gutless misery that comes with constant ambition outside of your grasp, and when you cannot reckon with what will always be beyond your means. born poor, born with enough, born rich, we all enter a station and some switch trains...but not many. Needed a Mike Leigh fix. Rowdy Herrington - 2000. The Lion King. Martin Scorsese - 1976. at the screen. As a play (and Abigail's Party is a play, captured before the TV cameras, rather than a film) Abigail's Party is a metaphor for life. Before she can celebrate her 70th, a surprise encounter has her questioning everything in her life. As part of the National Theatre's year-long project charting 20th century drama, the original cast of Abigail's Party read extracts from the play in London's Olivier Theatre. Paperback £8.99 £ 8. Starring original cast members Jill Halfpenny, Joe Absolom, Natalie Casey, Susannah Harker and Andy Nyman, Abigail’s Party is a comedy of manners with plenty of black humour. Hannah Summers and Sarah Mann Janine Duvitski Angela. If…. Commenting on the character, Halfpenny said, "To her mind Beverley isn't a monster and even warrants sympathy. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. The Doctor Foster spin-off brings has delighted viewers with its impressive cast and great writing. She took a cab to the middle of nowhere and vanished,…, This list is in no way complete and is based on numerous reports gathered from interviews, articles and first-hand accounts…, It is hard to pick a film to watch. Mobile site. The production opened in April 1977 at the Hampstead Theatre, and returned after its initial run in the summer of 1977, for 104 performances in all. Abigails Party Cast. Forrest Gump. One of Leigh's best IMO. She is wearing a red, low cut, long and flowing dress. Whatever it is, I think it’s a lovely tribute to “Ok Boomer.” It starts off as an awkward cocktail party but then gradually morphs into this molotov cocktail tragedy, and the whole time you're wondering when Godot (i.e. It’s slightly compromised as a play, but not too seriously. The entire ensemble cast is just wonderful, enlivening Leigh's fantastic play to great effect. Cast Attributes An extraordinary 16 million viewers tuned in to BBC2 on 1 November 1977 to watch Abigail's Party, and stayed with it, riveted by a drama that put Mike Leigh and his improvisational style on … mainly just want to share my admiration for Alison Steadman - i watched NUTS IN MAY just a couple days ago and didn't even realize it was the same actress until i looked it up. With Alison Steadman, Tim Stern, Janine Duvitski, John Salthouse. Janine Duvitski starred as Angela and her husband Tony was played by John Salthouse. Tensions boil over during Beverly Moss’ neighborly soirée. ... Beverly. Abigail's Party Review A group of terribly Suburban English adults attend a soiree held by uptight hostess Beverley whilst her teenage daughter is throwing her own party two doors down. Writing in The Independent in 2002, David Thomson noted that Beverley's naive storing of the beaujolais in the refrigerator had become standard practice: "The gaffe has turned suave."[8]. This was satisfying. Add a Quote. Cast includes Brighton & Hove based actors: Pip Henderson, Sarah Mann, Dave Scarratt, Hannah Summers & Jeff Longland. Buy SD £1.89 . British Film Institute. The worst part of it is that I know these people (and I think most of us do). As part of the National Theatre's year-long project charting 20th century drama, the original cast of Abigail's Party read extracts from the play in London's Olivier Theatre. Mike Leigh’s hilarious comedy-classic Abigail’s Party is set to kickstart its UK tour in Brighton this January. Little of this is disclosed during the narrative, although something of it becomes apparent when Angela steps in to care first for Sue, then the stricken Laurence, and the centre of power between the couple starts to shift noticeably. Answer the question, what if Hell was British? Alison Steadman Tim Stern Janine Duvitski John Salthouse Harriet Reynolds, 102 mins Everything she says seems to be a combination of a condescending "yes but let’s face it", a fake helpful high pitched "ok?”, or "don’t you agree with me Ange?". Beverly has invited her new neighbours, Angela and Tony, over for drinks. IMDb In March 2017, a new revival of Abigail's Party opened at the Theatre Royal Bath as a 40th anniversary production, starring Amanda Abbington as Beverly, Ciarán Owens as Tony, Charlotte Mills as Angela, Rose Keegan as Sue, and Ben Caplan as Laurence. theatre company incisor playing Abigail’s Party Review. It's a remarkably raw and visceral piece, but also a deeply comedic one, and I only hope my fellow LB'ers didn't endure the experience of such a party over the Christmas season. 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