Abigail's Party on BBC4

We didn't watch Abigail's party this time, have seen it a few times and found it toe curling and buttock clenching.
I think we must have been the only people who did not have these type of soirees, DH would have divorced me if I had even suggested it.

Sorry, I ought to have written merlotgran.

I agree Merlotgran.

Having just watched Points of View I would love Mike Leigh to write an updated, woke version of Abigail's Party.

It was every bit as enjoyable second time around!
Mind you, I had forgotten just how good Janine Duvitski was. I thought it was sad to see her in Benidorm without Donald, as it just looked to me that she was being kept in it just for the sake of it, as the character added nothing.

I see the Play For Today episodes look to be on iPlayer under the play’s title, rather than Play For Today, so I’ll need to keep my eyes open!

EllanVannin

Janine Duvitski is a very underrated actress I think.
One foot in the Grave.
Waiting for God.
Benidorm.

Not sure if this was her first appearance as an actress in Abigail's Party----which I loved. Pretty cringeworthy in parts.

I agree....her constant comments about how they got their house cheaper make you cringe for her, and her socially awkward gloomy husband, such good acting all round.
I can’t hear Demis Roussos ( apology for spelling) without picturing Ange dancing about and all the embarrassed faces.
?

So reminiscent of my home decor in those days! All that orange and brown! I was quite surprised when DS walked in and sai d "Ah it's Abigail's Party" Heaven knows when he ever saw it.

I love Mike Leigh.
His works are in a league all their own.

I never tire of Abigail's Party.

Yes..Mike Leigh's approach has been improvisory however the characters & story line are his.

suziewoozie

Did you watch the documentary about Play for Today which was on prior - they are showing several of the original plays. I just watched Country..

I watched it last night but didn’t realise some of the plays were on catchup. I’ll check them out. Cathy Come Home was partly filmed in the street next to where I lived as a child. Interesting that the BBC wouldn’t employ people that had been members of the socialist party at one time. Or was that just the writers?

I’ve been looking for this for ages! So, do I do the clear out I had planned for this afternoon, or...........

Just as good as the first showing and as cringe making. The schedules at the moment are pretty dire in the evenings, apart from BBC4. There are so many dramas that they can show again but instead we get a lot of reality tv

PECS

Mike Leigh ..such a great playwright

Aren't all of his plays improvised by the cast first? It must be a very complex process.
AS was pregnant with ML's baby at the time of filming, hence the impressive embonpoint!

Mike Leigh ..such a great playwright

Janine Duvitski is a very underrated actress I think.
One foot in the Grave.
Waiting for God.
Benidorm.

Not sure if this was her first appearance as an actress in Abigail's Party----which I loved. Pretty cringeworthy in parts.

So nostalgic. We used to invite neighbours around in the '70s for 'drinks and nibbles'. The ladies always used to dress up like Alison Steadman. Happy days

Yes, I enjoyed it and cringed in equal measures.
But can clearly remember the evening way back in 77 when I sat down to watch it.
Had got both of my small children to bed, as husband was working away.
Washed the kitchen floor and thought I'd just relax with a bit of telly whilst waiting for it to dry!
Loved it then, but last night I was just enthralled by A Steadman.
She is brilliant, also loved her in Gavin & Stacey and the latest series of Life.
In a bizarre way it is now like a 'fly on the wall' view of the 70's.
What struck me most was the way Tony could raise his voice, shout and threaten to hit Ang, because of course Domestic Violence was sadly not classified as a crime then.

Yes I watched it last night and was worried it would not be as good as I remembered. But it’s so brilliant and the acting second to none. I told my DD to watch it as I think she would find the characters very funny. We all used to have these drink parties, with nibbles of cheese/pineapple sticks, no olives though! I loved the shoulder pads too.

I couldn't watch it because it was so good. I know that sounds mad but you're right, it was toe curling. Alison Steadman and Janine Duvitski are tremendous. Unfortunately it reminded me of me xh in many ways. ?

It is a big thing in our family. The children bought us tickets for a touring performance a couple of years ago and we have the dvd.

It is so redolent of the era (we had friends like that) but it is also relevant today.

Nuts in May was another brilliant play, starring Alison Steadman, from that era.

It was brilliant, something different at last. I'll see what else is available on catch up. I didn't remember this one - or the Wednesday play. I must have missed them the first time as I was always out in the 70s!

Ooh I loved this. Must watch on IPlayer. Anyone else remember The Wednesday Play?

I really enjoyed it. I haven’t watched it in over 20 years. I was cast right back to my life in the 70’s in the opening scene when he lifted the telephone. Were they called trim phones ? I had a two tone green one!

I never tire of watching Abigail's Party. The cast and acting is brilliant.
I love anything that Alison Steadman's in and Janine Duvitski.