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Overview

Synopsis

Let’s travel back to the 1970s and a time of cheese and pineapple on sticks, paisley prints, and Dennis Rousseau. This evening, suburban socialite Beverly and her husband Laurence are hosting a drinks party, despite Laurence arriving home late from work. They have invited their new neighbors, married couple Tony and Angela, along with their recently divorced, next door neighbor Susan, who has been banished from her home as her teenage daughter Abigail is throwing her first party. As the drinks flow, tensions rise. Beverly flirts with Tony, while Laurence sulks on the sofa. Sniping, bickering, and drunken dancing ensue, until the evening comes to a sudden close when Laurence suffers a fatal heart attack.

Originally developed through lengthy improvisations, Abigail’s Party is a biting satire of British middle-class aspirations in the 1970s.

Show Information

Book
Mike Leigh
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1977
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
The home of Beverly and Laurence Moss, 1970s
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Concord Theatricals
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Beverly Moss

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Laurence Moss

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Tony

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Angela

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Susan

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher