CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
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A CurtainUp London Review
An Inspector Calls
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"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."
— the Inspector
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Cast in An Inspector Calls (Photo: Mark Douet)
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We know that the First World War changed society as it had been and it became increasingly difficult for the landed gentry to find servants to maintain their privileged lifestyle. What Priestley does in An Inspector Calls is to call out that class of factory owners and asks them to examine their lifestyle based on an oppressed underclass. Priestley's inspector (Liam Brennan) comes from more modern times in his belted trench coat and Fedora hat and with his appearance is a questioning of the prevailing values of 1912.
The message is that with wealth should come responsibility but more that society is unfair and unjust. The motivation for this is to investigate what led up to the death of a young and beautiful working class girl who has committed suicide in the most horrible way by swallowing cleaning chemicals. One by one, the inspector picks off the family and their accountability.
Liam Brennan, with his Scots accent, retains the distance as he incriminates each member of the Birlings' engagement party as their daughter Sheila (a lively Carmela Corbett) celebrates her engagement to Gerald Croft (Matthew Douglas) and turns the party into a wake. Off comes the inspector's hat and coat, his jacket and tie and we see him eventually roll up his sleeves as he identifies with the factory workers in the factory where Eva Smith was sacked for asking for a wage increase.
Mr Birling is played by Clive Francis, irascible and intolerant his attitude towards his workers is anything but paternal. Sheila the daughter is flighty and has obviously been drinking champagne but she exhibits some self criticism as does her brother Eric (Hamish Riddle). The star of the evening is Barbara Martin as Sybil Birling, she is autocratic and arrogant, haughty and with all the pretension of a grande dame.
My review from 2001 still stands the test of time as does this wonderful production of the play go here
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PRODUCTION NOTES
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Starring: Liam Brennan, Clive Francis, Barbara Marten, Matthew Douglas, Carmela Croft, Hamish Riddle
With: Diana Payne-Myers, James Hill/Christopher Lettich/Daniel Hysa/Shae Callender-Barnaby, Tabitha Douglas/Rachel Mukasa/Kerri Impey/Yvonne Osborne, Ben Burley/Patrick Jenkins/Will Causton/James Rich
Designer: Ian MacNeil
Sound Design: Sebastian Frost
Lighting Design: Rick Fisher
Music: Stephen Warbeck
Running time: One hour 50 minutes without an interval
Box Office: 0844 871 7631
Booking to 17th February 2017
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 10th November 2016 performance at The Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London WC2 5DE (Rail/Tube: Charing Cross, Embankment)
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