Abigail's Party (1977) is not just a play. It is a way of life. It is a cult. It is a phenomenon.
Alison Steadman gives the performance of her career as Beverly, the sexually supreme giantess who strides across the screen in her platform heels and maxi- dress. I suppose she isn't actually a giantess - but she seems huge and square, she holds herself in a certain way and fills the screen with a wonderful shimmering orange glow.
She is also, of course, a monster. A comedy monster as magnificent and memorable as Basil Fawlty or Alan Partridge.
The play is about a little 'soiree' which Beverley hosts - a glam cocktail party in her mind - while her neighbour Sue's daughter (the Abigail of the title, who we do not see) has a rowdy party. Also invited are the newbies to the street - Angela and Tony.
It's a play about social aspiration and awkwardness - absolutely cuttingly relevant as ever and oh so English.
Beverley is one of those women who work behind the makeup counter at a department store - the little lecture she gives Angela on how to put her lipstick on is so beautiful and precious. Just occasionally I do actually sit down in front of my mirror, relax, and say to myself 'I have very beautiful lips'. And you know what, I see the difference, because I apply the lipstick to every...corner...of.. my ... mouth.
It's a collection of these gorgeous little moments frozen in ice, moments in time played out for all eternity in a kind of eternal recurrence - a 'Huis Clos' torture chamber which threatens, or promises, to never end.
Except it does end in about as shocking and jarring a change of mood as you will ever see in any film. The discomfort increases until it becomes almost horror before your eyes. You are left almost shaken by it - almost scared.
It's a wonderful piece and right up there with the finest of Leigh's works - I urge you to see this. I really, really do urge you.
And buy the greatest hits of Demis Roussos too because I like Demis Roussos, Ange likes Demis Roussos and Sue would like to hear Demis Roussos so LAWRENCE...
would you put Demis Roussos on please?
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