"Play for Today" Abigail's Party (1977)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (writer)

TV Series:

"Play for Today" (1970)

Original Air Date:

1 November 1977 (Season 8, Episode 3)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A TV play based on the Hampstead Theatre production. Beverly has invited her new neighbours, Angela and Tony...

Plot Keywords:

Party | Tragicomedy | Character Name In Title | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Alison Steadman	...	Beverly
Tim Stern	...	Laurence
Janine Duvitski	...	Angela
John Salthouse	...	Tony
Harriet Reynolds	...	Susan

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The cramp Angela is crippled by at the end of the play was originally genuine. During rehearsals for the stage play Janine Duvitski was suddenly struck down with cramp and doubled over, Mike Leigh ruthlessly cried "Keep Acting" and the whole thing ended up remaining in the stage and TV play.

Quotes:

[Beverly is giving fashion advice to Angela]
Beverly: Now I can see what you've done, Ange - you've just sat down and put on your lipstick. Next time, will you try this for me? Just sit down, relax, and say to yourself "I have very beautiful lips" and I tell you, Ange, you're gonna see the difference! All right?!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Interview with Chris Petit and Keith Griffiths (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Forever and Ever

A brilliant, cringe-worthy glimpse into the reality of class and pride in 70s Surbiton.

Originally a play, but masterfully adapted into a television drama, Mike Leigh successfully creates a truthful, yet hilarious, look into the assumed manners and desperate ambition of the 'lower middle class' of 1970s south London.

The characters are memorable and appallingly dressed in the fashions of the era, which makes it even funnier to a modern day audience to look back on. The disgusting confidence of 'Bev' and her pathetic side-kick, 'Ange', contrast brilliantly with their ultra-bland husbands and the slightly higher-class Sue, the only character you actually develop any sympathy for.

This play/film is aimed at British audiences, and would probably totally fail to amuse anyone else, if not purely for the individual nature of our class-obsessed middle class then for its almost unique ability to be funny without resorting to slapstick or crude one-liners so often relied upon in American 'comedy'.