Play For Today - Abigail's Party (1977)

Beverly invites her new neighbours, Angela and Tony, over for drinks. She also askes her divorced neighbour, Sue, because Sue's fifteen year-old daughter, Abigail, is holding a party in their house. Things are already a little awkward for the guests due to Beverly's inquisitive and somewhat insensitive style of questioning, but when Beverly's husband, Lawrence comes home late from work it's clear that there is no love lost between the two, despite their pretence otherwise. And as it begins to give way to bickering and recriminations, it becomes a memorable night for all concerned for all the wrong reasons, leading to unexpected tragedy... Starring Alison Steadman, Janine Duvitski, Tim Stern, John Salthouse and Harriet Reynolds. This started out in the anthology series Play For Today and was originally broadcast on November 1st 1977. Written by Mike Leigh and again casting his then wife Alison Steadman in the lead role of Beverly, this proved to be a star making role for her and garnered huge viewing figures due to a industrial stike on ITV and a technical fault affecting BBC2. This is another Play For Today I came across in a charity shop (you never know what you might find in there!) and Steadman is magnificent in this as the gratingly awful social climbing hostess, complete in memorable and fetching orange frock, who constantly sets slip her true nature when her irritated husband (Tim Stern) turns up at the party. Indeed, at times it's hard to find who to sympathize with as Janine Duvitski and John Salthouse's new neighbours range from irritating to morose, leaving poor Harriet Reynolds as Sue, the mother of the titular girl who is having a party and probably wishes she was back there who you really feel sorry for. It's riveting stuff, and leads to an unexpected tragedy. Just marvel at the fashions, the music - oh and Demi Roussos. You'll know what I mean when you see it. Enjoy.