Abigail's Party - Royal Exchange Theatre

WHEN I was growing up in the 70’s, dinner parties always had a certain mystique for me and I couldn’t wait to be old enough to be invited to one, oblivious to the fact that adulthood can bring with it a whole new set of pressures.

I often wondered what happened at these child free get togethers, what was said, what was eaten and what was drank.

They were particularly in vogue in the 70s, the era of Harold Wilson, power cuts and the three day week.

When it comes to Mike Leigh’s hilarious comedy Abigail’s Party, they were an excuse to get sozzled, show off and pretend to be some much more sophisticated than they really are. Throw some flirting into the theatrical mix and you have a piece that feels as funny as it did when it was first performed nearly 50 years ago.

The so-called mod cons have changed and people have remained the same.

Kym Marsh is an example of inspired casting as the host, Beverly, quietly forcing her guests to have another drink and brilliantly browbeating her hen pecked husband, Lawrence. The chemistry between Marsh and Lawrence, played to perfection by Graeme Hawley, is convincingly perfect.

Kyle Rowe and Yasmin Taheri are hugely entertaining as guests Tony and Angela, Rowe giving us a hilarious impression of a rabbit caught in headlights as the social situation around him becomes more and more bizzare.

In fact, all the cast give us a masterclass in comic timing and reminds us this beautifully observed play falls into the timeless category.

Make sure you don’t miss the RET’s production of the season so far.

Until May 24. Tickets are available from 0161 833 9833 or www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - ****

Photo by Johan Persson.