Stage Review - Abigail’s Party (Lesser Known Players)
Stage Review - Abigail’s Party
Presented By: Lesser Known Players (Grange Hall, Bainbridge Island, WA)
Date Reviewed: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman
Did you ever stand in front of a piece of art, study it for awhile, and not really know what it’s about or what it’s trying to say? You might know what the painting is “of”, meaning that on the surface it’s clear what you’re looking at, but at the same time there’s a feeling that the painting is trying to say something more at a deeper level, that it’s true reason for existing in the first place requires some contemplation or introspection. So it is with Abigail’s Party, presented by the Lesser Known Players and onstage at the Grange Hall on Bainbridge Island through December 17. Directed and produced by Gary Fetterplace, with an exquisite set designed by Gary and enhanced by scenic artist Tina Henley-Hicks, it will be clear to any audience what they’re seeing, but the play’s underlying message and purpose for being will be something each individual will need to contemplate long after the curtain drops.
As I mentioned, what Abigail’s Party is about is apparent. Written in 1977 by Mike Leigh and set in 1970s London, it centers on a get together hosted by Beverly and Laurence Moss. Beverly has invited new neighbors Angela and Tony Cooper to her flat in an effort to get to know them better. Also invited is Susan, another neighbor, a single mom whose daughter Abigail is throwing a party and has ostensibly kicked Susan out of her own apartment for the evening. As the drinks flow, and inhibitions reduce, the curtain is slowly pulled back on each individual’s personality. Whether they transform into more real versions of themselves is up for debate, but so is a lot of what this show is truly about. There are considerations of class and stature, and there are a lot of identifiable traits in these characters that make one stop and think about their own behaviors and attitudes, but there’s also an underlying feeling that the play is trying to say something else at a deeper level, or go in a direction that’s more implied than explicitly presented. That’s both the genius of this play, and at the same time the most frustrating part about it. As the events transpire, especially into Act 2, it’s a lot like watching something break, but having to imagine what the broken pieces look like.
Like that piece of art I referred to earlier, Abigail’s Party is very nicely presented. The production design is transportive, for anyone who grew up in the 1970s, the color palette, furniture design, props, costumes, and hairstyles should all look familiar. The level of detail and thought in that space is impressive. The set is well laid out, facilitating movement and allowing the flow of the show to be smooth. Credit also to Tina Henley-Hicks for making the set look like a photograph from the 1970s and Kristi Ann Jacobson’s costumes for adding to that design motif. Beyond the creative side, the show is also very well acted. Pace-wise, the preview night performance started a bit slow, but I think that’s to be expected. As the characters loosened up, so did the actors and by about midway through the first act, each seemed to be very comfortable in their respective roles. I expect for opening night they’ll be ready to go from the start.
As the host of the gathering, the show revolves around Beverly. And as such it’s important to have someone in that role who can play this overly flirty and confident (to a fault) in her own tastes character, someone who is clearly adventurous, but also feels a bit trapped. And as the show revolves around this character, this cast revolves around Josi Twigt. She is the shining light of this production, and regardless of anything else, a reason alone to come and see Abigail’s Party. She plays the hostess whose top priority is impressing her guests very well, and she absolutely nails the flirtatious nature of the role, with an accent that is practically a character unto itself. Abigail’s Party is predominantly an ensemble piece, but Josi’s performance is a standout. Ted Schroeder plays Laurence, Beverly’s husband, a real estate agent who prefers the finer things in life, but constantly finds himself unable to compete with his wife’s exuberance. The other couple, Angela and Tony, are played by Kristi Ann Jacobson and Charles Smith, respectively. New to the neighborhood, they’re polar opposites to their hosts, more quiet and shy. While Beverly largely remains, well, Beverly throughout the night’s gathering, the same can’t be said for the others. As each drink is refilled, each character loosens up, and that requires each of the actors to understand their roles enough to present how they think each would change as the transformations progress.
It’s a lot of fun watching these actors in these roles. What is most impressive, though, are the subtleties of the performances, a certain look, a particular mannerism, things that might not seem important on the surface, but that make these performances work as well as they do. And I didn’t forget about Susan, played here by Ronni Wolfe. Susan is a challenging character to figure out, and I expect not so easy to play. Divorced with two children, it’s clear she feels awkward in the situation she finds herself in. In fact, it seems like everything is awkward about this character, and there’s a lot not known about her, her ex-husband, relationship with her children, and so forth. Susan’s character is a lot like the play itself, clear what her situation is, but not what lies below the surface. There’s a good deal of mystery surrounding Susan, and Ronni’s portrayal captures all of that.
If I’m being honest, and I like to think I am, I enjoyed Abigail’s Party. There are other plays out there that I feel are more (what’s the word?) satisfying, and while its design is a double-edged sword, the fact that it’s a bit of a thinker isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Plus, the presentation of it from both a design and acting perspective is extremely well done. That in and of itself is reason to come out and see this. Anything else is a bonus.
The Lesser Known Players production of Abigail’s Party is an example of what this troupe does best, selecting shows that are not entirely mainstream, but skew to the abstract and make one think. Abigail’s Party doesn’t end when the curtain drops, you’ll spend some time on the ride home thinking about what you just saw and what it means, but isn’t that what all good art does?
Abigail’s Party, presented by The Lesser Known Players, runs onstage at the Grange Hall on Bainbridge Island through December 17. Note that there are some adult themes and language in this production and it may not be appropriate for everyone.
