Review: Sensitive portrayals in sumptious drama at Kenilworth theatre

Getting the set right is absolutely vital to the success of An Inspector Calls and the production which opened last night at the Talisman did not disappoint. It was ornate Edwardian at its best: sumptuous, dark and overblown with upholstered chairs, portraits and aspidistras, representing the prosperity and assurance of the merchant class.

One evening in 1912 the Birling family celebrate the engagement of daughter Sheila to local catch Gerald Croft. Their festivities are cut short when an Inspector Goole calls at the house and asks some very difficult questions about a young woman known both as Eva Smith and Daisy Renton.

The opening was a little slow and Graham Underhill’s accent varied from time to time, which distracted from a solid performance as Arthur Birling, ambitious factory owner. But the first act gained pace with excellent performances from Nadia Parkes as Sheila and Will Thomas as her fiancé Gerald Croft. Their relationship was very believable and it became increasingly obvious that there would be no happy ever after for them.

In the second half the Inspector investigated the mother played by Gill Bowser determined to cling to her good works and social prejudices while Joshua Pink provided a sensitive portrayal of the weak and troubled son Eric. At the end of the play Sheila and Eric were changed and tried to face their responsibilities while the older generation retreated into self-justification and denial.

Played by John Dawson, the inspector was unflappable and judicious, turning the spotlight on each member of the family in turn. He became the family’s confessor and stripped bare their casual complacence and hypocrisy. However, one discordant note was the appearance of the maid Edna (Fay Stanton) as Eva/Daisy at various points in the play. In the text the dead girl is an enigmatic and elusive figure and having her appear on stage made her far too solid.

An Inspector Calls can be a ‘drawing room’ play, a melodrama, a moral fable or a thriller. This production reflected contemporary concerns showing a section of society living cushioned lives, totally unaware of the problems faced by those on the breadline.

Sal McKeown