The original cringe comedy Abigail’s Party was superbly brought to Lover village hall stage last week by the Redlynch Players.

Under the skilful direction of Lloyd Perry, Mike Leigh’s cult-classic of aggressive hospitality, awkward behaviour and embarrassing silences was a sell-out on all four nights – and rightly so.

Set in 1970s suburbia, upwardly-mobile couple Beverly and Laurence host a drinks party for new neighbours Angela and Tony, along with middle-class divorcee Susan, whose 15-year-old daughter Abigail is hosting her own raucous party next door.

Gina Hodsman was faultless as the socially-awkward hostess Beverly who, with an Essex twang and a long, floaty dress, practically forces gin and tonics, cheese-and-pineapple sticks and cigarettes down her guests, while sniping at her workaholic, estate agent husband, gossiping with 'Ange', patronising 'Sue' and flirting with 'Tone'.

Uptight Laurence, played by Graham Simpson, aspires to the finer things in life – like leather-bound classic literature, Van Gogh paintings and Beethoven – while his perfectly-manicured wife prefers José Feliciano and kitsch erotic art.

As the evening progresses, the party of five become increasingly drunk and Beverly and Laurence become increasingly irritated by each other.

Sarah Newman is hilarious as the childish newlywed Angela, who likes to brag about how they bought their house for £21,000 and is easily persuaded to have another drink and a cigarette. Andrew Harrison-King ably plays her mono-syllabic, former professional footballer husband Tony, looking awkward and uncomfortable with Beverly's advances.

Meanwhile, Ali Silver is appropriately demure as the quiet and well-spoken Susan, who spends the whole evening worrying about what daughter Abigail is getting up to.

The set is hallmark 70s, with cream leather sofas, orangey-brown, flowered wallpaper and veneer drinks cabinet.

Under Lloyd Perry’s superb direction, this is a funny and cringingly brilliant production.