Abigail's Party Reviews Highlights New Jersey Star-Ledger THE NEW YORK TIMES – Neil Genzlinger “The actors are all great, but the standout is Ms. Wiggins as poor, put-upon Susan. She brings down the house repeatedly…” “This type of comedy is difficult…but Jonathan Fox, the director, has managed it nicely.” STAR-LEDGER – Peter Filichia “…anyone who’s looking for a harrowing and fascinating comedy will find it at the Two River Theatre in Manasquan.” “Leigh does to his characters what strip miners do to land. He unpeels layer upon layer, until he’s bulldozed down to the lowest level, leaving everything totally ravaged.” “Jonathan Fox stages it precisely right…” “Henny Russell is wonderfully unbridled as Beverly, the life – and death – of the party.” THE TWO RIVER TIMES – Philip Dorian “…it’s exciting theatre…the second act is a beaut.” “Ms. Wiggins (playing Susan) is a wonder…if good acting is half reacting, she is a veritable master class.” TRICITY NEWS – Don Clarke “Henny Russell plays the hostess Beverly…she was wonderfully over the top as a suburban seductress, fashionista wannabe.” “The play is a vehicle for the women to run riot…a delight.” back to top New Jersey Star-Ledger 'Party' finds humor in stress Friday, January 23, 2004 by Peter Filichia Star-Ledger Staff Don't look for any Abigail in "Abigail's Party." She never appears. But anyone who's looking for a harrowing and fascinating comedy will find it at the Two River Theatre Company in Manasquan. "Harrowing" is an adjective that's usually applied to drama. But it's the right word to describe Mike Leigh's offbeat script, which is a funnier version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Beverly has decided to have three neighbors drop by for drinks and snacks -- much to the consternation of her workaholic husband Laurence. Angela and Tony, both new to the neighborhood, are first to arrive. Angela's enthusiastic about being invited, but Tony couldn't be more sullen. From next door comes Susan, who's agreed to her 15-year-old daughter Abigail's demand that Mom not be around for her big party. Susan decides to be stoic about it, for she figures that she'll be close by in case something goes wrong. But it's at Beverly and Laurence's house where everything goes haywire. There's no plot. Leigh just has five people sitting around dishing the tiniest of small talk. ("Do you play any musical instruments?") For a while, we wait for something, anything to happen. Will the uninhibited Beverly deliver a bombshell, such as spouse-swapping? (The play is specifically set in 1977, when that activity was in vogue.) No. Instead, the husbands and wives take the opportunity to air their grievances to the others in attendance, all in hopes that their opinions will be validated -- just the way husbands and wives do in real life. There is something starkly amusing in watching everyone's uncomfortable silence, as each slowly lifts a drink to his lips when he doesn't know what to say. That constant drinking will take its toll, of course. Both Beverly and Angela have no idea how insensitive they are to Susan when they talk about all the sex, drinks, and rock'n' roll that's undoubtedly happening at Abigail's party. But it's the adults who are worse than the kids. Leigh does to his characters what strip miners do to land. He unpeels layer upon layer, until he's bulldozed down to the lowest level, leaving everything totally ravaged. Indeed, in the final 10 minutes, "Abigail's Party" actually becomes more dour than "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" ever dared to be. It's a terribly difficult play to direct, because it must be slow-paced to suggest the off-kilter evening and the agony that each character feels. Jonathan Fox stages it precisely right, and that's no small achievement. Henny Russell is wonderfully unbridled as Beverly, the life -- and death -- of the party. Warren Kelley is amusing as the uptight Laurence, who'll rip the needle off Beverly's beloved record when he gets ripping mad. Anna Cody is funny as the stoop-shouldered Angela, the master of the pointless story. Randall Newsome is suitably inscrutable as her mostly monosyllabic husband. Most hilarious is Pamela Wiggins as Susan, who's as malleable as Silly Putty. She has a tough time saying no to any snack that's offered, even when her hands are already filled. When they're not, she's rubbing her knees in nervousness. She gets every one of the laughs she should in expressing her intense discomfort. "Abigail's Party" is a bit like the Sunday drive we used to take with our folks. Each never seemed to have any destination, but we still enjoyed looking out the window. Here, though, we look in it. back to top