REVIEW: Abigail’s Party at Newcastle Northern Stage

Abigail’s Party

Newcastle Northern Stage

Until Saturday 28 September 2024

Mike Leigh's classic slice of 1970s live is appearing in Newcastle for two more weeks. Dating back to 1977, the original play was filmed by the BBC and became a well known and memorable television event.

Set in middle class England, Beverly (Laura Rogers) has decided to invite a few neighbours around for drinks and nibbles.  First to arrive is her husband Laurence (Leander Deeney) who has come in from work thanks to his new trusty S-re mini. He has calls to make as the work of an estate agent is not 9-5 - a fact that clearly irritates his wife. Before he has chance to nip out and pick up house keys, and a top up of the drinks, the first batch of neighbours arrive. Angela (Chaya Gupta) and Tony (Joe Blakemore) have just moved into the area and are hoping to meet more people. Angela is an enthusiastic nurse whilst Tony is in computing - though Angela keeps pointing out that he is just an operator which clearly winds him up.

Beverly played by Laura Rogers

The last guest to arrive is Susan (Amy Rockson). She has been a resident for a much longer time and she lives in the bigger house next door. Her daughter Abigail is fifteen and she is having a party next door. The noise from that party is a regular reminder throughout the play. We never meet Abigail or go to her party, rather we watch the "adults" next door interact. Sue is established middle class rather than aspirational. She is divorced, indeed her divorce came through around the same time as the other two couples tied the knot. This does not stop Beverly pushing inappropriate personal questions around.

Amy Rockson Laura Rogers & Chaya Gupta

This show hangs on Beverly and her interaction with the others. As the alcohol flows she becomes more insistent. She is desperate to live a certain lifestyle but money does not necessarily equate to class and the lack of class turn a party into a horror show. Likewise Angela wants to fit in with this new crowd and is reluctant to upset her host. Laura Rogers has the onstage charisma to pull off a fabulous Beverley and Chaya Gupta is able to handle the duality of an excitable new neighbour with the dependable medical professional.

Laura Rogers as Beverly and Joe Blakemore

Local Geordie actor Joe Blakemore combines the initial shyness of Tony's character with the more controlling aspect of his behaviour to create a force in the dynamic of the show. I have seen productions in which this role has had the edges smoothed off to make the person seem more acceptable, so it was refreshing to see the role revert to the more difficult personality. Certainly your opinion changes as more is revealed. In the opposite corner of the social boxing ring is Leander Deeney as the over worked husband who equally misjudges the situation. This role becomes a physically demanding one as the story progresses.

Leander Deeny as Laurence

Amy Rockson has the ability to communicate her character's feelings in a non-verbal way. Whilst she says "thank-you", you can see that she doesn't actually want (or need) a top up of her drink, or yet another snack. Whilst her hosts inability to read the situation is initially amusing, it quickly develops beyond that. 

The show's dialogue is still firmly rooted in the mid-70s. The audience made a number of audible gasps, through the show, as the threats or casual racism occasionally, and rightly, shocked the modern sensibilities of those witnessing the party from hell for the first time. As channels repeating old television shows often warn "This show contains language of the time, which todays viewers may find offensive".

I was sat next to 2 young actors who, during the interval, admitted that they had neither seen this before or knew what happens in the second act. This production did a fine job in introducing them to this era. It is going to push those "woke" buttons as unpleasant things can happen behind closed doors but it also compulsive viewing.

A little note on the music... this is a revival of the original stage play rather than the television drama that followed. Some of the music choices are different between the two (I believe that this was due to copyright reasons as the television show was likely to be exported.) There was one jarring moment for me however (and sorry about this), If the play is set in 1977/78 (as Lawrence always buys a new car and the one on stage is an S plate) then Adam and the Ants will not release Prince Charming until 1981 - unless Abigail and her friends her built a time machine next door and that could lead to a completely different show!

We really enjoyed this production. It is tightly directed by Jack Bradfield and has a intoxicating mix of humour and social horror. Laura Rogers is fabulous as the host whose evening soiree descends into chaos. It is of its time but the play shows how far society has appeared to have moved on in some quarters. 

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Pamela Raith

Tickets:

For more information or to book tickets visit https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/abigails-party/ 

Abigail’s Party will open at Northern Stage, Newcastle before touring to Mercury Theatre Colchester (2-12 October), Blackpool Grand (22-26 October) and Rose Theatre (5-16 November).

    

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