REVIEW - Don't miss Abigail's Party - it's a bit of a do you won't forget!

On Wednesday, we were invited to Abigail's Party at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Read what our reviewer Abi Holden had to say about this brilliant play...

With this show having my name in the title, I have heard of it before. I also knew that there was a film version. However, other than that, I had no idea what it was about. I was extremely excited to find out, especially at one of my favourite theatres, the Royal Exchange.

The play consists of two acts. Host Beverly (Kym Marsh; Coronation Street, 101 Dalmatians the Musical) and her husband, Laurence (Graeme Hawley; The People Are Singing, Emmerdale) are getting the house ready to host drinks for their new neighbours and the mother of Abigail, who is using the drinks as a means to escape the party her daughter is hosting at her house. The first to arrive are Angela (Yasmin Taheri; The Merchant of Venice, Tartuffe) and her husband, Tony (Kyle Rowe; Those About To Die, Young Sherlock). They get to know each other whilst Laurence runs some errands for work, however, Tony doesn’t really speak much. Bev and Ang gossip away, although it is clear that Bev thinks that she is a cut above her new neighbours. Susan (Tupele Dorgu; Strike, Bread and Roses) arrives, worried about her daughter’s party antics but glad to be out of the house.

(The paragraph below contains plot spoilers so if you don't know the story before seeing the show, skip reading this paragraph!)

They drink and discuss everything from carpets to teenagers. Laurence gets home and both he and Tony head down to Abigail’s party, to check on the teen for Susan. Whilst there, Susan gets ill from too much drink. The second act begins with nurse Ang helping Susan to sit and the discussions continue, until Laurence gets back, without Tony. When Tony returns, they carry on drinking and he and Bev dance together, and get a little handsy whilst doing so. Eventually, Bev and Laurence’s arguing escalates. To end the play, Laurence collapses with a heart attack and dies.

The whole play had me in laughing so hard. Even when poor Laurence was collapsed on the floor, Bev’s antics had the audience in stitches. I absolutely loved the way that the stage was set out. This play is set in the 1970s and decor really took you back to that time. The light fixture was fibre optic, the colour tones were all oranges, red and browns and the little bar set up had me wishing I had one at home. The stage itself was on a revolve and turned, as the music played from the record player, and as Bev danced around the stage. I loved this touch. With the Royal Exchange being in the round, it gave the different sections of the audience a different point of view, instead of being stuck with the same one, the whole time. It was a stroke of genius. 

Kym Marsh as Bev was simply a wonder to behold. I absolutely loved her characterisation of the sassy, sarcastic, northern lass, who enjoyed her drink, gossip and flirting with people who weren’t her husband. The delivery of the funnier lines was perfect. She had the audience in stitches. I loved the way she floated around the stage, from seat to bar and back again. Everyone knows someone like Marsh’s Bev and she really kept the pace and piece moving. Graeme Hawley as Laurence was just hilarious. Just after his first entrance, when he is making phone calls, he was so funny. Throughout the whole piece, he brought the humour and the way he danced to his classical music, just before collapsing, was comedy gold. I think he played the awkward business man very well, especially when dancing with the other women. Again, he was so funny when Ang is doing ‘modern dancing’ and he is trying to copy.

Yasmin Taheri as Angela really gave such a wonderful range, from start to finish. She portrayed someone who was scared and timid, to someone brave and in control so perfectly. From the moment she set foot on stage, she really shone. Her awkwardness made me chuckle and the way she flinched when her husband moved near her in a certain way made me want to run on the stage and take her away from him.It all just felt so real. Kyle Rowe as Tony was fantastic. Having a character that gives one word answers makes for an easy part to learn but also a harder person to communicate to an audience with. Rowe had no problems there, however. His sarcastic one liners were brilliant and cheeky and he also played scary well too. I would not like to get on the wrong side of Tony, I’ll put it that way. And, last but not least, Tupele Dorgu as Susan was sublime. I loved the way she stood up for herself against Laurence's prejudices but also how she didn’t need to say anything in order for the audience to see how worried Susan is about Abigail’s Party. She was prim, polite and proper and really added that extra something that you didn’t know was missing until she arrived on stage. 

I think that this play, despite being set in the 1970’s, still has something to say about the world we live in today. It shows that the attitudes we think have changed might not have necessarily come along as far as we would probably have liked. Although, it does show that the need for a man, from that time, isn’t as needed now, as women no longer rely on men to bring home the bacon, as it is more socially acceptable for them to do it themselves.

Abigail’s Party is at the Royal Exchange Theatre until 24th May and it shouldn't be missed. I think it is safe to say that this Abigail loved the Party and thinks that you will love it too.

WE SCORE OF ABIGAIL'S PARTY...



Abigail's Party is on at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until Saturday 24th May 2025


WATCH OUR "IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAEME HAWLEY" VIDEO DISCUSSING THE SHOW



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