Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre’s production of Mike Leigh’s classic “Abigail’s Party” opens on 13th September and runs until 20th September. For a play as well-known as it is, a lot of people are still surprised to discover that during the play’s entire run time, you never actually meet Abigail.
‘I think it’s a fabulous title, because we never see her,’ says director Graeme Braidwood – with a smile. ‘She’s the daughter of one of the characters, so we hear Abigail’s party, but we never see it.’
That perhaps gives a reason for the continuing popularity of “Abigail’s Party” – still surprising people after almost 50 years. It’s also a play that, in the days of social media, seems more relevant than ever in how it depicts somebody presenting an airbrushed life in favour of the harsh reality.
Set in Essex in the late 70s, party hostess Beverley (Katie Merriman) and her husband Laurence (Alex Pendleton) welcome three neighbours round for drinks in their suburban semi. Awkward small talk quickly descends into power games and marital disputes in a darkly comedic portrayal of pretension and materialism, one which was the talk of the country when Mike Leigh’s original TV version was broadcast on the BBC in November 1977.
‘I thought I knew the play because of the TV version,’ says Braidwood. ‘I just presumed it was of its time and probably a bit dated, but then I read it and I thought it was terrific. The mix of characters, the dance of social manners, the darkness and the humour. Plus it’s just quintessential 70s, which is always a joy.’
As cheese and pineapple cocktail sticks are dished out and Demis Roussos is put on the record player, the character of Beverley is revealed to be the narcissistic centre of the play.
‘I heard somebody talk about what Beverly would be doing today, and they said she would probably be a Tik Tok influencer. Influencers are saying ‘you buy this in order to present yourself as this’. That’s what she’s doing, she’s curating this house. There’s just something very British about the characters in the play and how they look at class. They’re nearly all working class, but some are aspiring to be higher than that.’
The style of comedy couldn’t be more British, wringing out laughs from awkward interactions in a way that prefigured some of the more modern comedy which has mined cringe worthy moments for chuckles, whether that’s “Peep Show” or “The Office”.
‘I did wonder whether it was the first kind of cringe comedy ever made’, muses Braidwood. ‘It’s strange, because I really struggle to watch cringe comedy myself. There are bits of the original series of “The Office” that I’ve never seen because I couldn’t bear the awkwardness! Yet somehow it’s okay when you try to bring that out as a director.’
And so, in the tradition of cringe, we have to ask Braidwood the eternal question – should you put a bottle of Beaujolais in the fridge?
‘Well, if you’re Beverley, yes!’ he says with a laugh. ‘That’s part of the class thing – she doesn’t know that you don’t put it in the fridge. But she does know enough that if you throw a party, somebody should bring something to that party.’
LISTING
Venue: 20 Sheepcote Street, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B16 8AE
Dates: Sat 13th to Sat 20th September
Times: 7:45pm (excluding Mon 15th and Thu 18th)
2.45pm mats (Sat 13th and Sat 20th)
Tickets: From £11
Offers: Child, Student and Group discountsavailable