Review: Abigail's Party at Shinfield Player's Theatre

Barrie Theobald • Published 2 Dec 2009 14:00 14 Comments

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MIKE Leigh's classic 1970s play was satisfactorily revived by the Shinfield Players last week.

The set designers had succeeded in capturing the garish decor of the period with a sturdy set depicting the living room of over-worked estate agent Laurence (Chris Pett) and his alcoholic wife Beverly (Sam Rogers) as they prepared to entertain three of their new neighbours.

They clearly loved baiting each other, much to the distress of their visitors the bubbly nurse Angela (Siân Ellmes), her taciturn husband Tony (Alex Buchan) and Susan (Melanie Sherwood) the timid divorcee and mother of the invisible teenager Abigail.

While the evening began well enough, Beverly's insensitivity as she attempted to dominate the conversation once the drinks started flowing, led to much embarrassment of her guests before an unexpected turn of events ended in tragedy.

Liz George's skilful direction ensured this somewhat static play held the interest of the audience throughout.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Nov 09

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andy
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Dec 14, 09:58
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Bev really shows the instristic charcter of a woman in todays soceity the unforgivable fact is she will never resemble a complete character beacuse of her kismet drinking for love.

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Cindy Pegg
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Dec 15, 09:58
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your unbelievable remark towards Beverly's concept is towards somewhat ghastly, for the fact that you can use your prejudice comment to dissolve such a disagreeable statement is preposterous. The character of Bev is obvically disturubed to the fact that she herself puts on a upfront to prevent people from seeing her inner damage!

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andy
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Dec 15, 10:01
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ahhhhh how consumed you are dear dear Cindy. Bev holds no right to the obligation of the fact that mere- mortaled humaans would have the underlying fact to persue. SI ask if you would do the same?

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Cindy Pegg
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Dec 15, 10:12
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to correct you callow andy, i believe the average word you endeavour to use is SO! For the fact that Bev is somewhat less responsible to consist in a unstable behaviour, i believe your judgement should be there for pinned on the bloodcurdling creature Tony, who seems adequately aberrant to what we would expect.

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andy
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Dec 15, 10:22
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I hope this question does not seem, how shall i put this, adamant, obdurate and obstinate, but, cindy...are you by any chance going through menopause? How dare you misconcept my review by the callous chance of a slight slight error of a typo. ohhh is it not you typed at precisely 10.01am "obvically" when the correct lexis is OBVIOUSLY!. I quote, as the teenagers on the bus yell "retard!". regards.

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Cindy Pegg
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Dec 15, 10:30
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ANDY, I WOULD HATE TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM dyslexic. SO TO SOME FORM i am mentally challenged. I shall now be waiting for a reply of apology.

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andy
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Dec 15, 10:38
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This may be totally inapropriate, but, did they used to call you "dyslexic Cindy" at Durham university? it's jus****hink i was in your class. This would be so weird if it it. I'm andy james? and oh i am sorry, got a bit heated there.

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andy
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Dec 15, 10:40
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sorry that was suppost to be "i think" haha nows whos dyslexic! sorry thats not funny.. . .

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Arnie Clegghorn
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Dec 15, 10:42
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You people are absolute obstinate creatures when it comes to writing such a critical viewpoint upon such a charming lady - Bev, although I am inclined to say "Big Bevs" because of her large knockers, is a delightful woman who in respects, is MIDDLE-CLASS and a SAUCY one at that. Back in the 1970s were drugs and kinky sex came hand in hand, I believe that Cindy and Andy got none of the latter, and therefore are cruel vicious beasts who don't know the attitude of a real woman - Bev is a real woman.

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Cindy Pegg
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Dec 15, 10:43
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haha, no that is not. I remember you FATTTTY ANDY they used to call you, i believe, sorry a tad harsh. i loved you. did you realise you were my first love? i can't believe its been 7 years. Could we meet? you sexy chunky monkey.

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Arnie Clegghorn
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Dec 15, 10:44
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By the way, I was a professor at Durham university - I do remember an Andy James, lanky, spotty, with the large glasses in the class of 78' and Cindy Pegg or "Peggi" was a big nosed Jewish looking lady who used to suck her thumb in my lectures.

Toodle!

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******
Dec 15, 10:47
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******
Dec 15, 10:49
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******
Dec 15, 10:49
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andy
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Dec 15, 10:52
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This is so weird. what a small world, its quite frightening. haha i lost all the "baby fat" now its just muscle :) but yeah that sounds like plan, i would love to meet, unless your actually a man, but doubtfu, as i known they did infact used to call me fatty anndy. no nice. As for you CLEGGHORN seeing as your not my professor anymore i would like to take this minute to say how unbelivable bad and death like your breath smelt. You also had BO. and looked like a dying rat with rabbies. sorry. had to be said. anyway how the hell did you come unpon this site. This is all to stange. Todays society leaves nothing but the equal pod of our explict emotions.

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andy
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Dec 15, 10:54
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Clegghorn i just read your comment at 10.42. you truly are a sicko. I knew it.

ANYWAY (this is al to stange)

cindy?

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Bev
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Dec 15, 10:55
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I am Bev from Abigail's party and i must say Andy, I'm not most delighted with your comments. I could mention a few about you actually. arnie and Cind, pop over any time for a G&T

D'YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

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