AS soon as the lights went down, I knew this was going to be a fantastic evening. An incredible atmosphere was instantly created. As the curtain rose a house confronted us, raised on a platform, giving the impression of a dolls house, as we saw glimpses of the family inside and heard the family through the windows. Below a wet, dark, desolate street confronted us.
The Birling family are towards the end of their evening as they celebrate the engagement of Sheila Birling, Leona Allena and Gerald Croft, Tom Chapmen. Unexpectedly Inspector Goole, Tim Treloar, arrives to inform them of the death of a young woman. Tim Treloar commands the stage, full of energy as he probes the family’s involvement deeply. The difference in attitudes of the social classes are emphasised through bringing the acting space from the front room in the house onto the street, where it is dark, dirty and depressing. Edna, Alice Darling, playing the Birling’s Maid, though she never spoke, kept drawing me in reminding me of the death of the young woman and the differences in classes. The entire cast performed superbly, with an intense pace, bringing me darker and darker into the story.
An Inspector Calls is a one of the most classic thrillers and here with the National Theatre production, it’s probably, the best production I’ve seen for a number of years. With themes still highly relevant today. A must see show!
