Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Must see: Abigail's Party, Wyndham's Theatre, London WC2

Jill Halfpenny gives full value in a still vibrant cringe comedy

Paul Taylor
Thursday 10 May 2012 16:27 BST
Comments
Different class: Jill Halfpenny and Joe Absolom star in Lindsay Posner's revival of 'Abigail's Party'
Different class: Jill Halfpenny and Joe Absolom star in Lindsay Posner's revival of 'Abigail's Party'

Since the fabled 1977 television version, Mike Leigh's stage play has pitched camp as a classic of excruciatingly comic social embarrassment. It's a case of Who's Afraid of Beverly Moss?, not just in the "get the guests" format, but in the preoccupation with having and not having children.

Transferring to the West End from the Menier Chocolate Factory, Lindsay Posner's vibrant and splendidly cast revival will delight fans, while also offering new sidelights on characterisation – and questioning to what degree the play is inviting the condescending laughter of the social secure on the aspirational lower-middle and working classes.

Jill Halfpenny pins down with hilarious precision the infallibly undermining supportiveness of Beverly, who bullies her way to democratic majorities, while Susannah Harker, Natalie Casey and Joe Absolom revel in the class-conflicted idiosyncrasies of the supporting characters.

(0844 482 5120; www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk) Tue to 1 Sept

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in