A stylish, entertaining production with strong performances, though the plot twist lacks impact
I went into Abigail’s Party not really knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be a funny, slightly odd night that left me thinking about class, awkward social dynamics, and how much people can unravel in just one evening. The show’s set in the 1970s and follows a group of neighbours having a few drinks together – though it’s never just that simple.
The cast were all brilliant, especially Kym Marsh as Beverly. She completely owned the stage – loud, confident, constantly topping up people’s drinks whether they wanted one or not. She played the character with the right mix of charm and pushiness, which kept things feeling quite funny but also a bit uncomfortable at times. You can tell she’s used to being the centre of attention, and honestly, I couldn’t take my eyes off her – she brought most of the humour too, especially with her dancing and little side comments.
Graeme Hawley as Lawrence gave a solid performance as her husband – a bit uptight and clearly not as in control as he’d like to be. I found his moments quite funny, but also slightly sad at times, especially when he started going on about the people moving into the area. Yasmin Taheri, who played Angela, was sweet and quite easy to warm to. You could tell she was trying to fit in, maybe a bit too eager to go along with everyone else, but that made her feel real. Her husband, Tony, played by Kyle Rowe, barely spoke – but when he did, the room went quiet. There’s a lot in the way he looks at Angela, or doesn’t – it made me feel a bit uneasy, which I think was the point.
Tupele Dorgu as Susan was also great. She brought a quieter energy to the group, kind of acting as the outsider looking in. You could see her getting more uncomfortable as the night went on, worried about her daughter Abigail, who’s throwing her own party down the road. Even though we never meet Abigail, her presence hangs over the whole night – which is quite clever, really.
The set was genuinely stunning. It was so detailed, and just screamed ’70s – from the patterns on the furniture to the record player and drinks trolley. The revolving stage was a really nice touch too, especially when it moved along with the music. I don’t normally notice things like that, but it really added something. You got to see different parts of the house, and it helped break up the action in a subtle way.
My only real issue with the play was the pacing. It all takes place over one evening, which makes sense for the setup, but it meant the first half felt a bit slow. Not much actually happens until near the end, and by that point I was starting to wonder what the show was trying to say. There are hints throughout at deeper issues – bits about racism, class, and even power dynamics between the couples – but they’re never really explored properly. When the big twist came at the end, it felt a bit random. I get that it’s meant to show how thin the veneer of polite society is, but it didn’t quite land for me emotionally. It didn’t really feel like a proper dramatic moment.
That said, I did enjoy it overall. It’s well acted, looks great, and there are definitely moments that made me laugh – especially anything Kym Marsh was doing. I’m just not sure I totally got what it was all for. It felt like the play was building to something that never really arrived, and I left not quite knowing what I was meant to take from it.
Still, if you’re into character-driven plays with a bit of dark humour and some brilliant ‘70s nostalgia, it’s worth seeing. Just don’t expect it to go anywhere big – it’s more of a slow burn than a proper bang.