Mike Leigh's play and film 'Abigails Party' was set around the changing attitudes of the aspiring middle classes of the suburban 1970s. It raised issues of social status - the keeping up of appearances - and the conflict of differing tastes.
The play finishes with the death of Lawrence, the arbiter of the 'high arts', following a night of cringe-worthy 'entertaining' by wife Beverley (Alison Steadman). She argues for her erotic painting over her husband's Van Gogh, her Demis Roussos over his Beethoven.
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