Although it may be nearly 80 years old, J.B. Priestley’s socialist polemic still rings as true today as it did when it was written in 1945.
When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see for a whole new generation.
Using an elaborate staging not usually seen in travelling productions, a large townhouse looms over the stage, set above the cobblestone which it has seemly ripped through. Rain, fog, and a smashed-up phone box are all used to great effect on the ground floor where the Inspector appears. One by one the well-to-do family are interrogated for their part in a heinous crime, moving from well-dressed characters looking down from above to being brought to street level, dirtied and becoming more and more dishevelled as the true extent of their involvement becomes clear.
The stagecraft is excellent, but the actors are not to be outdone and deliver their performances just as well. The play runs 1 hour and 35 minutes with no break so to hold your attention for that long is no mean feat.
The play ends with a bang, quite literally, and again the fantastic setting plays its part as we sit as an audience to think about the message that the play has imparted.
‘An Inspector Calls’ is a spectacle to be seen, a play to be heard and a message to be understood. How much of those 3 you choose to partake in is up to you but you will be hard-pressed to leave this production not being impressed.
‘An Inspector Calls’ is on tour but stays at the Grand Opera House Belfast until 19th October 2024. For more info and tickets see here.
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