An Inspector Calls
Format: Play
Genre: Thriller
Novel: JB Priestly
Director: Stephen Daldry
Associate Director: Julian Webber
Cast: Liam Brennan, Christine Kavanagh, Jeffrey Harmer, Alasdair Buchan, Chloe Orrock, Ryan Saunders & Emma Cater
Children: Nathaniel Cagliarini, Ella-Grace Hanson & Daniel Dean
Design: Ian MacNeil
Lighting Design: Rick Fisher
Composer: Stephen Warbeck
Sound: Sebastian Frost
Fight Director: Terry King
Producer: PW Productions
Review Date: February 4 2020
Performances: February 4 2020-February 8 2020
Location: Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
Duration: 110 Minutes (No Interval)
Age Rating: 8+
When An Inspector Calls at Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre, expect to experience a fast-paced plot, ambiguous characters and an award-winning set. All of which, enrapture audiences as they follow the unfolding story. Both the philosophical and political underbelly of An Inspector Calls makes the piece relevant now more than ever.
Synopsis
At the family home in Brumley, Arthur Birling (Jeffrey Harmer) celebrates the engagement of his daughter Sheila Birling (Chloe Orrock) to Gerald Croft (Alasdair Buchan). After eating, Arthur Billing emphasises the significance of self-reliance and looking after one’s own to both his son, Eric (Ryan Saunders). Inspector Goole (Liam Brennan), who is investigating the suicide of Eva Smith, interrupts the party. He explains that Smith’s diary contains names of the Birling family. After Goole presents Arthur Birling with a photo of Eva Smith, he admits Smith worked in one of his mills until she was dismissed due to her involvement in an abusive workers’ strike over pay. Birling states he is not responsible for the death of the young woman. After being shown a picture of Eva Smith by Goole, Shelia admits she too recognises her. After, Shelia discloses she complained to the department store she worked at because of her own feelings of jealousy and spite resulting in Eva losing her new job.
Gerald Croft exclaims with shock when Inspector Goole tells Smith began to use the name, Daisy Renton. Despite Croft denying any wrong-doing and insisting he cannot be of any help to Goole, Sheila encourages him to be truthful as all will be revealed. After much persuasion, Croft admits he met a poor Daisy Renton, who was now working as a prostitute, at the Palace Bar. He states he had good intentions by providing her with food and a place to stay before she became his mistress. Inspector Goole explains how the young woman’s diary highlights her feelings of loneliness and disappointment once Gerald Croft had suddenly shunned her. After these revelations, Shelia dramatically drops her engagement ring on the floor and her fiancé exits. Sybil Birling (Christine Kavanagh), who holds great authority in a women’s charity, is found to have wrongly refused assistance to a now pregnant Eva Smith. Sybil sticks by her original stance on the issue, ordering Smith to ask the child’s father to contribute. It becomes apparent Eva Smith informs Sybil she fears the money he gifts her is stolen so will restrain from asking the father. With the inspectors enquires almost over, focus shifts to alcoholic, Eric Birling. After catching up with a drunken Eric, Goole prompts him to admit to being responsible for Eva Smith’s pregnancy. An angry Arthur Birling attacks his son after Eric says he stole money from the family business in order to support Smith. Before leaving, Goole concludes by reminding the Birling family of their individual actions. They are all partly responsible for the suicide of Eva Smith.
As the production develops, various questions arise one of many being the authenticity of ‘Inspector Goole’. Does such a man exist? A further question being, Did Eva Smith truly commit suicide? Two visits to the telephone box, placed stage right, provide intriguing plot twists.
Analysis
An Inspector Calls opens with a lively young boy (Nathaniel Cagliarini) speeding down the centre aisle. Upon reaching the stage, the boy walks the length of the curtain looking for an opening before comically attempting duck under the curtain. The curtain lifts, exposing a raised doll house with numerous small windows. The designer (Ian MacNeil) combines a black clouded backdrop with an outpouring of rain and smoke which falls onto the cobbles below emulating post-war Britain. As background noise is heard from the engagement party, the younger boy repeatedly jumps up and down on the left aiming to catch a glance through a window. From a simple jumping movement, the audience gage that the Birling family are above and at times disregard the lower class. The outer walls of the house swing outwards uncovering a slightly imperfect drawing room. Inspector Goole enters with purpose, again through the middle aisle, in a trench coat and bowler hat. Goole stands mostly stage right whilst he pushes confessions from each character with one line of enquiry at a time. As Goole’s inspection is nearing an end, the audience observe an intense fight between Arthur Birling and his son Eric. Under fine fight direction (Terry King), Eric’s glass smashes into the spiral staircase and forced to submit around his father’s punch to the stomach. Even though the Birling’s may have doubts concerning Inspector Goole, it is no doubt their reputations will be scarred. The Birling’s damaged image is represented by destruction of set. Will the Birling family learn from their mistakes?
Summary
Stephen Daldry’s thought-provoking production for the National Theatre at Liverpool Playhouse is a must-see for all, yet you must be warned there is no escape from the Inspector’s unforgiving conclusions.
Notes
Target Audience: 8+
Content: 0/5 – No Content Likely To Offend
Recommendation: Yes
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding
An Inspector Calls Tickets
An Inspector Calls runs at the Playhouse Theatre until Saturday February 8 2020. To buy tickets, click here or call 0151 709 4776.
