While Mike Leigh has, justifiably, gained much admiration through his long career, not many would describe him as a crowd pleaser. Much of his work is enjoyable, its humour part of the appeal, but this revival of his most famous piece, directed by Nadia Fall, makes comedy its raison d’être.
Part of this broad approach might be a way of dealing with the age of the script. We are just shy of its 50th anniversary. Domestic abuse, marital infidelity and troubled teens are tricky subjects. The characters who assemble for evening drinks are a long way from present-day politesse. Or maybe there’s a little confusion about class? The aspirations of these suburbanites longer contain much sting. Fall’s strategy seems to be to treat it all as a joke, and there’s no doubt the production is funny.
Some poignancy is lost. After all, this is a group of unhappy people whose problems we might want to explore. Famously, we never meet the party girl in question. Abigail is the daughter of Susan, a divorcee who has been banished from her daughter’s house party and visits Bev instead. Played by Pandora Colin, Susan’s reserved calm stands out nicely.
The two are joined by new neighbours, a young couple, one of whom seems to regret their marriage. Omar Malik and Ashna Rabheru get a lot out of the scenario, the latter’s ignorance far from blissful. And, of course, there’s Bev’s husband, Laurence, played by Kevin Bishop, who some might describe as long-suffering while others would find insufferable. The characters are great, the performances strong, and there’s lots of nuance here if you want it.
Subtlety isn’t the name of the game, though. Along with 1970s cuisine and courtship, we’re asked to laugh at the posturing, ignorance and attitudes. Is there a certain snobbishness here? I guess toes were always meant to curl, and it makes a great night for Tamzin Outhwaite.
Bev is a fantastic creation, although, being so grotesque all the time, she can be wearying. Outhwaite turns every line into a guilty pleasure. Her flirtation with one man is as overt as her frustration with another, and her bitchy consolation to the other women is equally entertaining. Bev insists on being the star attraction at all times. Outhwaite follows her character’s lead and this is, undoubtedly, Bev’s party.
Until 19 September 2026
Photo by Mark Senior
