Abandonment

by Kate Atkinson

"Elizabeth, forty-something, childless, recently separated, just wants to be alone. She's moved into her new house, a converted Victorian mansion, alive with history, character, woodworm and dry rot. But worse than that, she's besieged by invaders of the human kind." "Her best friend, her sister, their mother, the builder and a photographer are all determined to make their mark. And a former inhabitant of the house, disturbed from her resting-place by Elizabeth's arrival, stirs long-forgotten memories." "A play about love, death, identity and evolution, Abandonment is a complex mixture of social comedy and family drama, reminding us that the past is not as far away as we think. Abandonment premiered at the Traverse Theatre during the 2000 Edinburgh Festival."--BOOK JACKET.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and she has been a critically acclaimed international bestselling author ever since.

She is the author of a collection of short stories, Not the End of the World, and of the critically acclaimed novels Human Croquet, Emotionally Weird, Case Histories, and One Good Turn.

Case Histories introduced her readers to Jackson Brodie, former police inspector turned private investigator, and won the Saltire Book of the Year Award and the Prix Westminster.

When Will There Be Good News? was voted Richard & Judy Book Best Read of the Year. After Case Histories and One Good Turn, it was her third novel to feature the former private detective Jackson Brodie, who makes a welcome return in Started Early, Took My Dog.

Reviews

[Trin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Atkinson is one of my favorite writers, so when I heard that she'd written a play, I decided to track it down. It's nice that it is available, even if it's published with one of the most hideous covers I've ever seen. Look! What the hell is that? It makes the play look like an episode of Dynasty. Which it absolutely is not. Like much of Atkinson's work, the story is about a family of women with complicated pasts and various secrets, and there's a wonderful historical aspect, and a mystery, and ghosts! It's really clever and interesting, and if you can find it anywhere, I really recommend it. Don't be scared off by the cover.

[Xanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit beautiful. It was very sparse in terms of the directions though, which sometimes made the emotions and actions in a scene unclear (especially after reading Arthur Miller, whose plays read like a stripped down novel almost).

The themes were really carried through all the way to the end, which is difficult with plays, and I loved the spooky / Romantic vibes. Especially with the image of Michelle Gomez as ghost/opinionated victorian governess. Wish I could've seen this live! And definitely makes me want to give Kate Atkinsons books a try.

Also I just saw a review calling out the hideous cover and on one hand yes, true, but on the other hand the way it looks like a promo picture for a 90s tv show about witches is like half the reason i bought it, so to each their own I guess haha

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some big dramatic moments and verbal sparring but it doesn’t quite work. The real find here though is Michelle Gomez as Agnes (the Victorian governess with many of the preoccupations of Agnes Grey..) - what an amazing piece of casting, before any of the roles that made her famous. I can totally imagine her in ‘mad mode’ as ghostly Agnes - a part I couldn’t make much sense of before I realised it was Gomez. Interesting stone on the path of her career as well as Kate Atkinson’s.

[Angela Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read. The play is good, but not quite as enjoyable as the other Kate Atkinsons I have read. I wasn't quite as interested in the historical characters as I was in the contemporary storyline. While the plotting was good, it was not as complex as her novels, and therefore less satisfying. The cover is just awful, but that's not the author's fault!

[Susannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play is written by well-known novelist Kate Atkinson. I believe it is her only play so far. Set in contemporary Scotland, it is about a divorcee who buys a Victorian flat that contains secrets from the past. Also featured are her tempestuous sister, best friend, a handyman, a photographer, and her adopted mother.

My main issue with this play is the dual timeline. It is something that is overdone in novels, and really stands out when it is done for the stage, as this play runs to about two and a half hours. My belief with dual timelines is that they ought to reflect and comment on each other, but there is not a lot her that obviously ties the two timelines together other than location and that most of the actors play dual roles. Instead, I think including dual timelines gives short-shrift to both stories due to the time constraints of the stage. I think the play would have been much better served sticking to the characters in the present only, as they are all quite distinct and enjoyable, especially the mother, and the dialogue is sharp. Although I do wonder why they have to mention that Susie is a lesbian on every second page. The second timeline is meant to create a mystery related to a murder, however, the body is not revealed to the very end of the play, so any possible suspense does not eventuate.

Still, this play contains some great parts for women, so is worth considering if you do not mind going with a longer pay.

[Hugh Pavitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always better to see a play than read the script. It’s a good story with interesting, topical themes, but sounded to much like something the local am-drammers would put on in the church hall.
I love her books but this just didn’t work for me.

[Leo Robertson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not really sure what this play is about. And I think that’s because this play isn’t sure. It tries to conjure up history, God, fate etc but goes about as deep as Eastenders: “You shagged ma pal” “Aye well you shagged mine first!”

[scarlettraces · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I love early-period Kate Atkinson. I love her now too of course (middle period?) but this reminded me of my all-time favourite, Emotionally Weird.

[Hol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently, the casting director of Green Wing saw Michelle Gomez in this play and thought it was one of the funniest things she’d ever seen and cast her in the show. The play is not a comedy. Not at all.

[Sophie robertson]

Too much going on, too many ideas and the addition of the 1881 part ruins what could be a quite good play with some very well written female characters depicting a very well observed family relationship. Both mother/daughter and sisters.

Susie is grating, Elizabeth is the only character I could warm to. Ina was a really good part, potential for a lot of good dialogue. For acting the scenes in the flat in the present are good for females.

...However the interspersion with the governess and the Rev. was poorly written and lengthy. Ruining the play for me.