J B Priestley wrote the 1912-set An Inspector Calls in 1945 as the second World War was drawing to a close and shortly before the start of the First World War. The hypocrisy, greed, abuse of power, particularly towards the working classes, that he saw in Edwardian society, had, he felt, helped trigger that conflict, and 21 years later few lessons had been leaned, resulting in the brutal loss of life and property in the Second World War.
If the older members of the establishment continued to ignore these warnings, as they appeared to be doing, the future looked bleak. So it was the younger, inexperienced age group to whom we had to look for hope for the future.
It is hardly surprising that this production has become the longest-running revival in the history of theatre, attracting audiences of more than five million. Between them, director Stephen Daldry and set and lighting designers Ian Mcneil and Rick Fisher have brilliantly encompassed both periods, visually and emotionally. Dominating the set, high on stilts, is the Birling family home, a big imposing mansion in the eyes of social climbing local businessman Arthur Birling (Jeffrey Harmer)and his arrogant, self-important wife Sybil (Jackie Morrison). In reality it is a mini house made of straw, and it cannot withstand the pressures put upon it, or the Birlings’ social class, by two world wars.
When they and their adult children, Sheila (Leona Allen), a spoilt young woman, but capable of regret and a desire to make amends for her mistakes, and weak-willed and bullied son Eric (George Rowlands), venture forth into the real world they find themselves in the middle of a World War 2 bomb site, confronted by the mysterious Inspector Goole (Salisbury based actor Tim Treloar).
Priestley’s relentless attack on the values and prejudices of the upper middle classes, and the way they go through life blinkered against the needs and value of others, comes through loud and clear as the inspector of the title peels away each layer of facade revealing the way in which each member of the Birling family and Sheila’s finance Gerald Cross (Tom Chapman), a likable young man bogged down in the values of past generations, were responsible for the death of a young women by suicide in Brumley Infirmary.
The older Birlings’ attitude towards their servants, and the Inspector’s determination to support the underdog, can be seen in their attitude towards the maid Edna (Alice Darling). Never off stage, never uttering a word, for the continuous one-hour-fifty-minutes that Priestley’s original three act play has been skillfully condensed into, Ena’s services are taken for granted and ignored by Arthur and Sybil, but always acknowledged with kind thanks by the Inspector.
If you wish, you can ignore the political and social themes in the play and just enjoy it as a thriller … who really was responsible for the girl’s death, or was it indeed all of them? – the production certainly is tight and taut enough to withstand that treatment. But judging from the animated conversations between the hundreds of students in the audience as they left the theatre, (An Inspector Calls is on the list for 10 and 11 year students), I would say they found a great deal more to examine than the simple thriller in this fine production.
GRP
Photograph by Mark Douet
The tour also visits Southampton Mayflower from 28th January to 1st February 2025.