Love Midlands Theatre

Abigail's Party - Derby Theatre

11/10/2018

 
Picture







"...this laugh-out-loud play has stood the test of time for a reason."

Mike Leigh’s cult classic Abigail’s Party is delighting audiences at Derby Theatre this Autumn. Well cast and admirably directed by Douglas Rintoul the play, set in 70s home-made Essex, is a hilarious take on suburban, lower-middle-class attitudes, fashion and etiquette. The story features around ex-department store cosmetics girl Beverley (Melanie Gutteridge) and her hen-pecked, boorish estate agent husband, Laurence (Christopher Staines). Bev and Laurence have invited new neighbours, Angela the daft and giggly nurse (Amy Downham) and Tony the computer operator (Liam Bergin), round for drinks. They are joined by the painfully quiet and somewhat awkward neighbour, Susan (Susie Emmet), the divorcee only there to escape her teenage daughter Abigail’s house party in the adjoining semi. The gathering, fuelled with cheese and pineapple sticks, gin and tonics, Bacardi and the occasional olive, starts stiffly as the strangers introduce themselves, yet ends rather dramatically as the alcohol takes effect and Laurence objects to Bev’s shameless flirting with geeky Tony. The cracks in their marriage soon become apparent as its clear Bev and Laurence are far from happy.


Melanie Gutteridge, best known for her roles in The Bill and Not Going Out, portrays the shallow, almost cringeworthy hostess to perfection, comically patronising her neighbours and the performances and comic timing of this whole cast is superb. The set, seriously worthy of an award, is a highly detailed and fully functional lounge-diner with deliciously old-fashioned drinks bar, vinyl record player, lava lamp and more... all encased in a typical 70s design. 

A very strong cast and direction ensures a first-rate production. With some marvellous outfits some of us will be taken back to that era in a jiffy and some of us may jokingly view it as a social history lesson. Nevertheless, this laugh-out-loud play has stood the test of time for a reason.

Runs to 20 October
Contains smoking on stage


Comments are closed.

    Love Midlands Theatre

    Sharing the latest theatre news and reviews around the Midlands.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All
    Amateur Theatre
    Birmingham
    Coventry
    Love Midlands Theatre
    Professional
    Review
    Solihull
    Stafford
    Tamworth
    Theatre
    Wolverhampton

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Contact