Jennifer Jason Leigh is a great actress. In Mike Leigh's 1977 play, Abigail's Party, now on Theater Row, she is amazing as she turns artifice into reality, broad caricature in movement, voice, accent, physicality, and attitude into a totally believable human character. She plays a narcissistic pretentious working class woman who believes she is some kind of princess, and Max Baker as her cringing husband brings a matching piece of work to the stage. As beautifully directed by Scott Elliott, this marvelous ensemble, including Lisa Emery, Darren Goldstein, Elizabeth Jasicki, bring us to the edge of the top but don't go over it.
he play starts out like an Alan Ayckbourn comedy but keeps exposing character through banal conversation, and would be much less without the sterling performances. Costumes by Eric Becker enhance and emphasize character; set by Derek McLane and lighting by Jason Lyons are just right. For JJ Leigh, it's a very broad tour-de-force, and she gives us the funniest sexy dance I've ever seen.
