Review: An Inspector Calls at Darlington Hippodrome
An Inspector Calls
Darlington Hippodrome – 1st October 2024
Invited| Review by Stephen Stokoe
Dark, atmospheric and moody – in fact everything you would want from a dramatisation of J B Priestley’s classic thriller. Set on one night 5th April 1910, Priestley’s play tells the tale of the affluent Birling family who are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila (Leona Allen) to upper class toff, Gerald Croft (Tom Chapman) when their revelries are rudely interrupted by the arrival of the inspector of the title, one Inspector Goole (Tim Treloar.) Goole brings news that an impoverished girl, Eva Smith, has apparently committed suicide and would like to question them all, in turn, about their involvement with the young lady.
The audience arrives to see what can only be accurately described as a dishevelled curtain which very slowly and eerily rises to display the frontage of the home of the Birlings. Evocatively, it is also pouring with rain, foreshadowing, very effectively the dramatic story about to unfold. J B Priestley’s original play is in three acts but this production runs without an interval which adds to the growing menace of the piece.
Visually, this production is quite outstanding. The set design (Ian Macneil) is gloriously imposing and even acts as a dramatic metaphor of the story itself as the action unfolds. The lighting (Rick Fisher) is beyond exquisite and the sound design (Sebastian Frost) is sublime. The soundscape which enhances and occasionally disrupts the action is very carefully selected and causes the odd jump during the performance.
The production is very much the sum of its parts. Everything has been meticulously planned and is there for a reason. The costumes produced by a team of ten offer an insight into the psyche and character of the actors wearing them. They also distort, in some ways, the period of the piece and are reminiscent of other plays and dramatic forms. They really make you think about the characters in a different way than just reading the play or from other productions I have seen.
Stephen Daldry’s direction is heralded the world over and on this production it is not hard to see why. Every action has a purpose. Every beat is perfect and, given the nature of the piece, every moment of nuance and comedy is eked out with exquisite skill.
J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls has been on the GCSE English Literature’s syllabus since I was at school so it was not at all surprising to see many students of that age in the audience this evening. I think there may be some A+ essays being produced in the months to come after they have considered and inwardly digested this wonderful production of what is a thoroughly absorbing piece of drama, social commentary, and what was referred to this evening as a beautifully presented reverse ghost story.
There are some brilliant performances in this cast and while the characters are not very likeable, as the story intends, I particularly enjoyed Leona Allen’s spoiled little rich girl and George Rowlands drunken fop as the daughter and son of the Birlings. Jackie Morrison’s presence and timing as matriarch Sybil Birling was also outstanding.
There is no doubt that Stephen Daldry’s production of An Inspector Calls is worthy of all the awards that it has deservedly won and everyone should join the five million and more theatre goers who have already enjoyed it.
An Inspector Calls runs at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 5th October.