Queen of suburbia Beverly Moss is hosting a cocktail party for her neighbours, and audiences at The Royal Exchange have been invited to watch the social-horror unfold.
Abigail’s Party is Mike Leigh’s cult tragi-comedy which takes place across the course of one evening at Beverly and her husband Laurence’s home. Leigh’s original has been tweaked slightly by Director Natalie Abrahami, relocating the setting from Essex to the North West - and the result is genuine hilarity.
Beverley has invited her new neighbours, Angela and Tony, over for some drinks.
The invite has also been extended to long-term neighbour, Susan, who is using the opportunity to escape a party her daughter Abigail is hosting at the family home.
For this production, The Royal Exchange has been transformed into a 1970’s suburban home, complete with an aspirational dining room table and silver-plate candelabra. The theatre in the round is also ideal for making audiences feel like they’re sitting in Beverly’s living room.
I have even seen ticket holders on Facebook so excited about the 70s nostalgia they have been seeking out retro Manchester restaurants for a meal out beforehand to keep on theme – cheese and pineapple sticks at the ready.
It’s hard not to compare new versions of the production to Leigh’s televised version because Alison Steadman is just so iconic. But Kym Marsh, who makes her Royal Exchange debut, was magnificent as Beverly. The former Coronation Street star puts her own spin on the legendary character, playing the part as if she’s in The Real Housewives of Cheshire, with an incredible blow dry and kaftan-style dress to match.
The Manc accent really works, and we’re chortling away as she makes advances towards Tony, calling him ‘fantastic’ while criticising Laurence for having heartburn.
Marsh is joined by two other former Corrie stars Graeme Hawley, playing husband Laurence, and Tupele Dorgu as Susan. They are joined by Kyle Rowe, playing the surly Tony, and Yasmin Taheri has been cast as Angela - who shines in a comical dancing scene.
Class is a prominent theme weaving throughout the production. Laurence asks Susan if the type of people living in the area has changed over the years, while showing off his Charles Dickens collection.
But it seems he wants his guests to admire how the book looks rather than its content. Laurence also wants to listen to classical music, but his wife Beverly is more interested in Demis Roussos. And don’t get started on the topic of olives…
The excruciating social situations is what makes Abigail’s Party so funny, and the cast deliver this to perfection, managing to keep us laughing even in the darker moments.
It’s been a long time since I heard an audience ‘whoop’ in support of the cast, even when it was just the interval, showing this Northern revival has timeless appeal while still being relevant to modern day audiences.
Abigail's Party is at the Royal Exchange until May 24. Tickets here.
