The Genesian Theatre Company (GTC) has chosen a classic work of British drama, J,B. Priestly’s 1945 play AN INSPECTOR CALLS, for its first production in its brand new Rozelle venue.
This is a very clearly delineated three act play, with two intervals, that takes place in a family living room during one single night in April 1912.
My description of the scenario. The Birling family has built up some seriously bad karma, and, well you can fill out the rest of the sentence.
The pivotal character is Inspector Goole who knows, for sure not the first time a police officer has done this, how to spoil a good party. The very well to do Birling family are enjoying a family dinner and celebrating the engagement of their daughter when the housemaid announces his appearance. A young woman named Eva Smith has taken her own life and the Inspector, inspecting her diary In her apartment, has found references to her time working in the Billing’s factory. He has come to find out what the family know about this tragic woman’s demise.
After some tough probing, the patriarch Arthur Birling admits that she was an employee in his factory, and that she was fired after she was behind a strike for better pay for female workers. An arrogant capitalist, he tells the Inspector that he needed to penalise her for causing the strike and wanting equal pay rights. Goole is now on the scent, and the Billings family are in for a rough night.
I found that each of their actors gave good performances with strong portrayals of their characters.
Vincent Andriano played the Inspector. Goole’s questions probe and pierce with bite and an unremitting ardour.
David M Bond is his fierce opponent and tries to stonewall him. Birling doesn’t like Goole’s brazen, forceful approach, and reminds him that he is a judicial officer and is on good terms with the local police commander.
Annabel Cotton plays Arthur’s wife Sybil, a kindred spirit, haughty and aloof. What do they owe a struggling young working class woman?!
Rebecca Liquorish plays their more astute and emotionally attuned daughter, Sheila. She knows wrongs have been committed and in a family that shys away from responsibility, wants to step up and take some.
Simon Pearce is her fiancé, Gerald, who is a more frosty type. He is very excited to be marrying Sheila but he has some dark secrets in his past.
Harry Charlesworth plays Sheila’s younger brother, Eric, a bit of a lad, with a serious drinking problem. Some people are their own worst enemies…
Meredith Blee plays the Birling’s housemaid Edna who keeps calm amongst all the turmoil.
Co-directors Ali Bendall and Mark Bull’s production is tight and they put their imprimatur on the show. The staging values are excellent. The set design by Mark Bull, Ali Bendall, Peter Curtis, Paul Gilbert and Tom Fahy is replete with symbolism, not the least being a skewered framed family portrait.
The work of veteran sound and lighting designer Michael Schell, I don’t use the word veteran lightly, Schell has been the lighting designer for 166 GTC productions and the sound designer for 170, as always, enhances the production with great effect as do the lush period costumes designed by Susan Carveth.
This is a a fine first production for the GTC in their brand new venue. One cannot help but think that some of its loyal audience base may be put off by the Genesian’s theatre no longer being so perfectly located, right in the heart of the city. With the new venue, there is good street parking and nearby public transport. With shows of quality like this, hopefully they will brave the change.
J.B.Priestley’s AN INSPECTOR CALLS, as directed by Ai Bendall and Mark Bull, opened at the Genesian Theatre, 2B Gordon Street, Rozelle on the 11th January with the show running until the 23rd February. Performances are Fridays and Saturday’s At 7.30pm and Sundays at 4.30pm.
