Sydney theatregoers can currently see a fine revival of J.B. Priestley’s classic tale at Rockdale’s Guild Theatre, right opposite Rockdale train station, in a production directed by Nathan Farrow.
The time is 1912 and the action takes place over one night in the Birling household in Brumley, England.
Audiences walk into the theatre to be greeted by a classic period set designed by Farrow with the prosperous Birling family dining at a magnificent long table. Father Arthur (David Hines), mother Sybil (Leona Wilson), together with son Eric (David Urquhart) are celebrating the announcement of the engagement of their daughter Sheila (Jodi Burns) to Gerald Croft (Adam Yardley).
Their celebrations are marked by some underlying tensions between family members. Nothing, however, could predict the increasing schisms that appear when Inspector Goole (Paul Miller) calls in for a visit, to investigate the suicide of a woman who used to work in the family business. Inspector Goole’s visit brings all the family’s dirty laundry to the surface.
Farrow builds a strong conceptual production around the cracks that the Inspector exposes within the Birling family. Interspersed through the play, at telling moments, sounds of shrill cracking are heard over the theatre’s sound system. Then, in the play’s major scene, when the exposure is well nigh complete, as if an earthquake, a crack runs across, in an increasing zigzag fashion, across the back wall of the family’s living room.
Roger Hind’s lighting design reflects the action; in the play’s darker scenes, the stage lighting is dimmed and gloomy.
The play is served well by a good cast. As the patriarch Arthur, David Hines draws out his character well, a conservative man, who is more interested in social appearance and status, (he believes he is on the running for a knighthood), rather than in ethical character. Jodi Burns portrayal of Sheila Birling, a strong willed, outspoken, independent young woman, impressed. Paul Miller gave a fine performance as the emphatic, confronting, almost avenging Inspector Goole.
Nathan Farrow’s impressive production of Priestley’s incisive ‘An Inspector Calls’ opened at the Guild theatre, Walz street, Rockdale on Friday18th February and plays till Saturday 19th March, 2011.