Abigail's Party | Alison Steadman, Tim Stern

Abigail's Party | Alison Steadman, Tim Stern | A Scorcher

DVDs:

Abigail's Party

	Abigail's Party Alison Steadman, Tim Stern Water Bearer Films, Inc, 2004 average customer review:based on 13 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

ABIGAIL'S PARTY features Beverly (Alison Steadman) a bitingly funny hostess of a dainty evening party at which her husband has the ultimate bad taste of having a heart attack on her new living room carpet. Unable to decide which is more important, her dying husband or her new, very expensive, carpet, Abigail must come to terms with where her true priorities lay. One of Mike Leigh's greatest works, ABIGAIL'S PARTY reaches a moment when the unbearable and hopeless fuse to create an explosion of incredible humor and tremendous insight into the state of human affairs.

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Abigail's Party

Based on a theater play produced for the BBC, Leigh's dark-humored situational farce examines a group of people feebly attempting to have a good time although they are all secretly miserable. As Beverly, Steadman (wife of the director) is aggressively jolly and controlling, not to mention drunk and openly flirtatious with Salthouse's simmering Tony. For every awkward moment, another drink is poured. This is an ensemble piece, and the interplay between the five actors, confined to a single living-room stage, is exquisitely handled by Leigh. Crash this "Party" for a harshly funny look at failed marriage and the cruelties of passive aggression.

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A Scorcher

I absolutely love this movie/play. I once saw a very good stage production in New York, but nothing beats seeing Alison Steadman playing the monstrous Beverly ruling her roost.

It's a not-terribly-kind portrayal of suburban angst and tension among the classes in Britain circa the Queen's Jubilee.

Every scene boils with subtext, and you are gripping your seat wondering how this tinderbox will explode.

Very black comedy, and very astute about the rage and pain that lies behind those suburban doors.

Abigal's Party

Awesome play. Saw it in London 2x. The DVD is nearly as enjoyable as the live performance.

Storyline reminds me a lot of Who's Affraid of Virginia Wolf.

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5 Starts to Mike Leigh, 1 star to DVD

the conversation is purposely dull, yet it indeed sounds funny. this is the mike leigh's magic. the only disappointment about this piece is that the quality of the image is really poor. it feels like playing the video tape upon the vcr of 20 years of age. this, in a way, does make you feel like you are watching a 70's programme, perhaps.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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