Yep - if I'd've been at the party, I'd've had some of them there olives that Beverly reckoned Laurence couldn't shift!

Love this classic piece of t.v. drama - other than Mike Leigh's excellent 'Nuts In May' this is unmatchable for characterisations - Janine Duvitsky's "I've got beautiful lips" line has me laughing each time I see it.
Okay... so we never get to see Abigail (and I believe that she was at the party waiting for Godot to arrive with a 'Party Seven' to no avail) but we see the other characters giving their all - Alison Steadman's performance is iconic as Beverly - a woman who likes to be in control and be the centre of attention - funny how hubbie Laurence has to have a heart attack to shift the attention from her!

Comical yet tragic and poignant at the same time - anyone who can watch the scene where Laurence sits down to listen to his music as a broken man and doesn't feel moved by it doesn't have a heart - that person has a swinging brick!

Definitely 'up there' as one of television's greats.

Alison Steadman's portrayal of Beverley is one of the all time great performances. She is ably assisted by 4 other excellent actors who all contribute to a simple story of a drinks party that goes horribly wrong.
The fashions are very much of their time but everything else is timeless and the atmosphere builds to a crescendo before events finally come to a dramatic end.
Excellent stuff all round.