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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Family sparkle under the spotlight
INSPECTOR CALLING: John Lucock, as former Mayor Arthur Birling, puts a comforting arm round Karen Whittingham, playing his daughter, under the watchful gaze of Frank Martino, as Inspector Goole, in the impressive Dudley Little Theatre production
An
Inspector Calls
Netherton Arts Centre
***** AN evening of excellent theatre finds five members of a family group made to question their philosophies and morals at the behest of a mysterious visitor.
The Theatre Guide does not
list it as one of J B Priestley's time plays, but this is a story which
nevertheless leads us through the tragedy of a young woman's death
before telling us that it did not happen until after five people had
admitted their share of responsibility – and that seems like something
to do with time.
The production, directed by Maurice
Felton and David Hutchins, leads us unerringly from the happiness of a
family party to the realisation that everyone there has in some way
contributed to the death – and that people are responding in different
ways. They are responses that range from that of Arthur Birling, former
Mayor of Brumley, who mainly foresees the imminent scandal as the end of
his hopes for a knighthood, to the anguish of his daughter Sheila, the
only one who actually faces up to the unpleasant reality.
Throughout, it has pace and passion.
John Lucock, as Birling, does some furious finger-pointing and rightly
fails to persuade us that we ought to be on his side. As his wife, Jenny
Pearson meets the inspector with careless abandon that is fortified by
her self-righteousness before she crumbles onto her knees in the face of
all the questions.
Sheila (Karen Whittingham) is the only
one who recognises reality. She does so in shrill indictments of the
others, coming at them from beneath a tsunami of a hairstyle, all mighty
rolling waves that hint at something unstoppable. And indeed, she does
tend to prevail in her various encounters – unlike her brother Eric
(James Silvers), the weak one of the family, prone to take refuge in the
bottle and liable to lash out only when goaded beyond endurance.
Tony Stamp is Gerald, Sheila's fiancé,
who finds himself just as much involved as the rest of them, giving
Inspector Goole (Frank Martino) a nap hand of nervous, agitated suspects
to aggravate at will. This is a demanding role and an interesting
portrayal – courteous but confident, the voice raised to good effect
when it is deemed necessary.
Emily Woolman is Edna the maid, apt to
linger on the fringes of the excitement if she enters at an
inappropriate moment, and otherwise observed for much of the time
attentively performing her domestic duties beyond the sitting-room wall.
The production has important lighting
effects that interestingly add to the air of unreality in which
Priestley has dressed his play. So we see a succession of “suspects”
bathed in an arc of extra illumination as they define the various roles
that preceded the tragedy of a luckless young woman. It is an evening of
sterling worth, a credit to everyone contributing to it. To 13.3.10.
John
Slim
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