ABIGAIL'S PARTY AT THE ARTS THEATRE CAMBRIDGE

Rebecca Birch as the inexhaustible Beverley -

“Love, sex ambition, money Each generation looks back at those that came before with an ironic smile thinking they are cooler, better more enlightened.” The director of Abigail’s Party Michael Cabot makes the case for this dazzling reprise of what is now a modern classic. First launched in 1977 by celebrated producer Mike Leigh, it began as an improvised script and soon became a legend. In this new version the actors take the 40-year-old story and re-fashion it for today.

Alice De-Warrenne as Angela and Rebecca Birch as Beverley

Beverley and Lawrence are young marrieds recently moved to a well-to-do estate. Their house, art, possessions obsess them and whilst Beverley styles the latest lava lamps and leather sofas, her husband Lawrence works ten hours a day as an estate agent to bring in the money. In the first scenes we watch Lawrence, a tight-suited Tom Richardson, as he makes manic phone calls to clients; he exudes a high-octane nervy tetchiness. Beverley takes no notice of his anguished contortions. She has invited Tony and Angela young neighbours, to the background thrum of 15-year-old Abigail’s party. Sue, Abigail’s anxious reserved middle-class mother is a nervous third guest.

Rebecca Birch as the fabulous Beverley and George Readshaw as George

Last night’s drama had all the fun and the horror of the original, thanks to a body of superlative actors. Beverley played by Rebecca Birch powers through the play with brilliant timing stage presence in spades and a comic sensibility that takes every scene to the brink of hilarity. We see her first as she floats around her living room in a diaphanous bright floaty gown; She brings a contemporary self-absorption to this prolonged scene, with her blithe egotism. Without any hint of parody, she evinces the comedy in every small movement.  But whilst Beverley feels confident in her super sexy style, she is all at sea in the social world. She is as ambitious as her husband – but despite the lavish attention to detail in the room, the meticulously presented snacks and the gallons of trendy drinks, she has no idea how to entertain. Far from at home and relaxed, the guests are on the end of Beverley’s hilarious one-upmanship. No one is happy. Tony, a stolid ex footballer played with stolid introversion by George Readshaw, is a social curmudgeon, unwilling to say more than the odd word. Wonderfully played by Alice De-Warenne his wife Angela ‘Ange’ is a nurse. Beverley condescendingly adopts her as a partner in booze “We’re alike!’ enthuses a guiless Ange - a second’s pause from Beverley tells us what she thinks of that idea. Angela reveals how joyless and selfish Tony is – she cannot even use the car for her shift work. Keen to get the low down on their relationship, when he’s left the room, Beverley asks her confidentially “Is he violent?” “No,” replies, poor Ange naively “He’s just a bit nasty.” Tony threatened to tape her mouth up she confesses cheerfully.

The entire party line up

Sue, played with immense conviction by Jo Castleton, mother of the party-giving Abigail adds a dash of tame middle-class disapproval to the mix. Inept Beverley tries hard to get the party atmos going but meets a stone wall with Sue’s guarded caution. Mind you, she had hardly bargained for an in depth interrogation of her recent break up with her architect spouse complete with details of how he, as Beverley puts it ‘ran off with another woman.’ The poor woman is in out of her depth and her formal manners get her nowhere.  Husband Lawrence fizzes with a mix of embarrassment and rage. Beverley’s flirtation with the unpromising Tony is beyond hilarious – a mix of shamelessness and desperation. When Beverley insists on dancing, their centre stage steamy sexy entanglement is a masterclass of wrong-footed frustration – as Tony glances guiltily over his shoulder at his wife - blithely unaware of what is going on. The aftermath is appalling.

Jo Castleton as Sue

What to make of this comedy of manners? How can these young people be so loveless, pointless and self-interested? Ange despite her gauche presentation emerges as the only true soul in the ensemble. The depths of this brilliant re-make depend on the sheer skill of its actors (not a dud performance anywhere) and the excoriating critique of contemporary life - and the desperation that dwells beneath it, will have you talking - and perversely - laughing - for days.

 Alice de Warrene as Angela

George Readshaw and Tom Richardson as Tony and Lawrence embattled in Abigail;s Part