Wife, Bev (Susi Damilano) is threatened by husband Laurence (Remi Sandri). Photo by Jessica Palopoli.
Abigail’s Party is a play written and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh. It is a suburban situation comedy of manners and a satire on the aspirations and tastes of the new middle-class that emerged in Britain in the 1970’s.
The place is “the London side of Essex” according to Leigh. Beverly Moss (Susi Damilano) invites her new neighbors Angela (Allison Jean White) and Tony (Patrick Kelly Jones) who moved onto her street two weeks ago over for drinks. She has also invited her neighbor Sue (Julia Brothers), divorced for 3 years, whose 15 year-old daughter, Abigail is holding a party at her home. Beverly’s husband Laurence (Remi Sandri) comes home late from work, just before the guests arrive. The gathering starts off in a stiff, insensitive British middle-class way as the strangers tentatively gather until Beverly and Laurence start sniping at each other. As Beverly serves more drinks and the alcohol takes effect, Beverly flirts more and more overtly with Tony as Laurence sits impassively by. Within this simple framework, all of the obsessions, prejudices, fears and petty competitiveness of the protagonists are ruthlessly exposed.
Sue represents the middle-class being the ex-wife of an architect and living in one of the older homes on the street. She also brings a bottle of wine and has not yet eaten, indicating she expects dinner as opposed to just drinks. The others present have already had their tea. Beverly and Laurence represent the aspirations of the lower middle-class and Tony and Angela, the new arrivals are also lower, middle-class, but Tony is less successful than Laurence. Despite their similar background, Laurence seeks to differentiate himself from Tony by highlighting the differences in their general level of culture and makes condescending comments towards him.
Director Amy Glazer and her strong cast caught the mood and style just about perfectly. In the role of Beverly, Susi Damilano was able to indulge herself in this gem of a role as she moved seamlessly from a snobby, flirtatious hostess to bullied wife with equal assurance. Remi Sandri delivers the downtrodden, yet superior Laurence very effectively. His frustrations were convincing as his temper brewed and was finally unleashed he did not hold back. The part of Angela was brought to life by Allison Jean White. She brought out the humor and innocence in her role with ease. Patrick Kelly Jones’ performance as Angela’s husband Tony was appealing with his economy of words. Julia Brothers turns in a wonderful comedic performance as Sue, Abigail’s worried mother.
According to Artistic Director Bill English, who also designed the marvelous set, “Mike Leigh is most interested in what this consuming desire for one-upmanship and keeping up with the Joneses does to our humanity…how coming out on top and feeling superior to others diminishes us—when we think we’ve won, we’ve really lost.”
Abigail’s Party plays at SF Playhouse, May 21-July 6, 2013. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. The SF Playhouse is located at 450 Post Street (2nd floor, Kensington Park Hotel b/n Powell and Mason), San Francisco. For tickets, call 415-677-9596 or go online at www.sfplayhouse.org.
Coming up next at SF Playhouse will be Camelot by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), directed by Bill English, July 16-September 14, 2013.
