Abigail's Party / Goose-Pimples

by Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh’s 1970s classic play ‘Abigail’s Party’ focuses on an evening of domestic hell in the guise of a suburban drinks soirée. While teenager Abigail parties a few doors away, the pretentious Beverly and her estate agent husband, Laurence, entertain their neighbours – Abigail’s mother, Susan, ex-footballer, Tony, and his wife, Angela. But as the alcohol flows, tensions in the hosts’ barely functional marriage emerge and their obsessions, prejudices and petty competitiveness are ruthlessly, and hilariously, exposed. ‘Goose-Pimples’, meanwhile, is easily as sharp and uncompromising. This time, the action focuses on ambitious casino croupier, Jackie, and Saudi businessman, Muhammad, who meet – and misunderstand – one another spectacularly.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Fiction, Theatre, Classics

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1979

Reviews

[Ronja (queer-is-the-universe)]

Abigail's Party is just fucking perfection.

[Patrick Neylan]

A hilarious satire on 1970s nouveau-riche attitudes, Leigh's play suffers from its own brilliance: it satirised the 1970s so perfectly that it's totally out of place in any other era. And, while Alison Steadman has broken free of the character she made her own, any other actress will suffer by comparison with her.

Great though it is, I wouldn't recommend anyone putting it on stage in the 21st Century.

[Sian]

*Only read Abigail's Party*

After two films and one play, I don't think Mike Leigh is for me. This is interesting to study and analyse, but that is about it.

[Hannah]

Had to read the original before going to the stage show. Nice background information at the start. Read it in Alison Steadman's voice from the TV adaption

[Helen]

Only for Abigail’s party. The other is offensive, zero point

[Mügeü]

Goose Pimples deserve 5 points tho, if you want to study offensive and triggering jokes all the way

[Vincent Mollica]

(Goose Pimples only)

[Shang]

Very funny!

[Rebekah Parsons]

2.25 for goose pimples. Outdated for todays world and the comic relief being a language barrier got old very quickly.

[Verity Treadwell]

funny but nothing crazy

[Joe Skilton]

All Gin and no Tonic -
Abigail’s party is a laugh / Goose-Pimples not worth finishing

[Cerys]

A funny, class-based satire. It's very traditionally British, so kind of hard to get unless you understand the context. The main issue with the eponymous play (and the following play Goose-Pimples) is the lack of plot. Reading it on your own makes it seem kind of boring, watching it definitely brought the humour out some more.

[Lina]

Some things never change...

[Gothica Noctua]

Read "Abigail's Party" only with a local play reading group. A funny and clever play.