Review: An Inspector Calls - Theatre Royal, Glasgow
This classic and intense thriller written by JB Priestly is produced for the theatre by acclaimed director Stephen Daldry for The National Theatre Company. The theatre company is currently on their 2011/2012 tour and is playing here in the Theatre Royal Glasgow until 25th February. The play is set in the year 1912, during the course of one night, when Inspector Goole arrives at the Birling residence.
The first thing you hear is the eerie music which sets the tense mood needed for this play and the mood was captured brilliantly. Stephen Warbeck effortlessly captures the intensity of the piece - and also recognised the specific moments where the music could increase the tension - and I found it extremely effective. A boy resembling a young urchin runs on to the stage shining a torch, where he then controls the music for the show. There is smoke and water to create rain and the light is dim, dark and extremely eerie. I felt the set is cleverly designed, with the middle class residence being raised with stairs attached and the urchins and working class walking on the wet streets. Hearing only laughter from the closed house and seeing how others suffer down on the street standing in the rain brought home to me class inequalities and extremely poignant. Ian MacNeil and Rick Fisher used specific detail for stage and light respectively which I found to be very effective.
The whole cast delivered very strong performances and each performance brought out different emotions. There were dark comedic moments within all the tension which provided some light relief and Karen Archer delivered these with great timing. It feels wrong to single any specific performer out as everyone showed their talents off very well and the acting was of a very high standard.
What also struck a chord was how the socio economic themes throughout the play are still relevant today. Class divisions, misuse of power and status, social inclusion and helping those that truly need it is still not happening in our society at times. It is the innocent and those living under the poverty line that suffer most as a result of decisions that are out of their control.
This intense drama is performed and staged to a very high standard and I would recommend that anyone who loves dramatic and tense stage productions gets down to the box office and sees this play while it’s in town.
Review by Linda ConwayPERFORMANCES
Until 25 February
Tickets: £16 - £26
Box Office: 08448 717 647 (bkg fee)
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)
