The Oxford Dictionary of Plays

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Abigail's Party

Abigail's Party

Author: Mike Leigh

First Performance: 1977, London

Published: 1979

Genre: Com. in 2 acts

Setting: Laurence and Beverly's suburban home, 1970s

Cast: 2m, 3f

Laurence is an estate agent, driven to work hard to fulfil the social aspirations of his airheaded wife Beverly. She has created a tasteless suburban home to which they have invited some new neighbours round for drinks, and is annoyed when Laurence has to go out on business. Tony, a computer operator and former footballer, and his wife Angela, a nurse, duly arrive, and Laurence leaves soon after. Eventually they are joined by another neighbour, Susan, a divorcee whose 15-year-old daughter is having a party and does not want her mother there. Laurence arrives back and his reports about Abigail's party ‘hotting up’ make Susan very anxious....

[The entire page is 331 words long]

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