Theatre Review - ABIGAIL'S PARTY - THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 

Abigail's Party photo Paula Smart

A suburban situation comedy of manners and a satire on the aspirations of the middle class. Beverly has invited her new neighbours, Angela and Tony, around for a few drinks, as well as neighbour Susan, a divorcee who has vacated her own house to allow her daughter Abigail to have a party. The evening starts off badly when Beverly’s husband Laurence is late back and then has to pop out again for work. The uncomfortable evening goes forward with too many gin and tonics, many cigarettes and stilted conversations, with a few eventful moments to boot.

Beverly (AnnaDobson) Laurence (SeanBurnside) photo Paula Smart

Director Sam Hinton uses the awkward silences in the conversations to great effect, drawing out ever more laughs from the audience. The set, designed by Claire Leighton, was quite simply a joy to behold, reflecting an authentic seventies-styled living room with its loud prints and beaded curtains; it was very clear a lot of care and attention had gone into its creation. At the interval I had to force myself to stay seated to refrain from going up and pouring myself a drink! Lighting and sound by Tim Swinton were simple and effective, adding to the ambience of a night in a neighbour’s home. Costumes by Paula Smart fed into the feeling of the characters and the time.

Anna Dobson (Beverly) Alison Carr (Sue)
Mark Burden (Tony) photo Paula Smart

I was afraid, after hearing the barely audible recorded announcement before the show, that I’d be straining to hear, however this was not the case and all actors and their well-tuned accents were not only easy to hear, but marked out each character brilliantly. I was surprised to realise that the actors were actually smoking during the show; my hat is off to a true commitment to the part. Anna Dobson, who delighted in every opportunity to bring out innuendo as the overbearing, and increasingly inebriated, Beverly is ‘very good actually’. Emma Jane Robson showed some very interesting dance moves as the practical, and also increasingly drunk, Angela. Sean Burnside had me laughing as he held a knife a little too long as the poor, ridiculed husband of Beverly, Laurence. Mark Burden does so much, turning a seemingly monosyllabic character, Angela’s husband Tony, into comic gold. Alison Carr had me laughing out loud to her reactions, and use of seemingly polite replies, to the ever-probing questions of her nosey neighbours, as divorcee Susan.

A very enjoyable evening.

Abigail’s Party is running at the People's Theatre until 12^th February.