This week’s play of the week is Mark Kilmurry’s fine production for the Ensemble Theatre of Mike Leigh’s 1977 play, ‘Abigail’s Party’.

A fair description of ‘Abigail’s Party’ is to describe it as a dinner party from hell. The title is something of a misnomer, as it is actually Beverly’s party. Beverly and her husband Laurence give a dinner party in their upmarket family home, immaculately designed by Graham Maclean.Their invitees are new next door neighbours Angela and Tony, and divorced neighbour Susan, whose fifteen year old daughter, Abigail, is giving her first house party.

The ideal party host is supposed to put people at ease. Beverly, played wonderfully by Queenie Van De Zandt, has the opposite effect. She’s a bit of a brute, and has no idea of tact, and delivers clangers left, right and centre throughout the party.

In this dinner party from hell, one gets to look close hand at the obvious mismatch between Beverly and her husband Lawrence (Brian Meegan). Abigail is obnoxious, a loud-mouth, throws her weight and body around whereas Lawrence is softly spoken, shy and deeply conservative.

Then there’s the other obvious marital mismatch between Angela (Tara Morice) and Tony (Ben Ager). Angela’s very chatty and a bit superficial whereas Tony is the serious, dour type.

The hyper sensitive Susan, well played by Julie Hudspeth, the only unmarried person at the party, albeit only recently divorced, has a very rough time at the party, and is a target of some sarcastic comments from Beverly.

Mike Leigh’s social satire still has plenty of bite. ‘Abigail’s Party’ plays the Ensemble Theatre until the 2nd May.