Abigail’s Party

Billed as a ‘dark comedy’, Abigail’s Party is a hard hitting look at suburban relationships – warts and all!

With a great cast, set and costumes, the audience is lulled into a false sense of security. Then the fun (?) begins: bottomless alcoholic drinks, snide remarks and a hostess who is a card carrying “control freak” send, what starts out as a small gathering to welcome two new neighbours to the street, into a downhill spiral of disintegrating relationships. Abigail doesn’t appear but the noise and reports of the 15 year olds teenage party are typical of that age group and a constant cause of worry for her Mother.

Dawn China’s skillful direction, aided by assistant Hayden Beck, steered this impending disaster to an unexpected climax.

Control freak Beverly – Natalie Campbell, her browbeaten husband Laurence – Peter Maden, affable new neighbours Angela – Amy-Louise Anderson and Tony – Michael Denny and timid divorced mum Susan – Helen Maden all embark on a collision course ending (as is often the way with crashes) with death and despair.

The audience obviously identified with the characters of this play as they could see similarities within their own circle of friends both past and present.

This style of comedy may appeal to many but I prefer a good belly laugh.

Roger McKenzie

Photographer: Shane Caddaye