An Inspector Calls
Produced by Langham Hotels Internationa, John Frost, Black Row Proudctions

Cast: Pip Donaghy, Sandra Duncan, David Piper, Mark Healy, Emma Darwall Smith, Mark Field, Diane Payne Myers

Written by: JB Priestley
Director: Stephen Daldry

Publicist: Judith Johnson Publicity

Australian Premiere: Lyric Theatre, Sydney. January 6, 2006.


The Lowdown:
Classic play that toured the country in 2006.


AussieTheatre.com Review:
If somebody said “it’s time to put tired old An Inspector Calls to bed”, they’d probably have a pretty good case. But there’s just something about the classic play that keeps audiences coming back – its success in London is testament to that – and while it is a little dated and at times tacky beyond belief, there’s no lack of entertainment in this one-act piece.

The JB Priestly play focuses on the disruption of a family dinner party by Inspector Goole (Pip Donaghy), who – so he says – is investigating the suicide of a local girl. He slowly interrogates each of family members, who all eventually realise – or admit, depending on the character – that they have had some sort of involvement with the dead girl.

As we find out during a thought-provoking directive later in the play, Inspector Goole’s real point is not to necessarily find a killer, but to prove that the actions of an individual can have major ramifications on others, and that we are part of the greater community – we don’t “live alone”.

When Goole delivers the play’s crucial speech, you could hear a pin drop. There’s suddenly recognition from the audience not only about what the play’s message is, but how true the words ring today. In some ways, perhaps they are even more relevant these days than when this play was written, in the 1940’s, or set, in 1912.

The plot lines that develop during the play are not overly surprising or shocking – the audience tends to be one step ahead on pretty much all counts, but there’s still room for interest. The breakdown of the relationship between Gerald (Mark Healy) and Sheila (Emma Darwall Smith) is intriguing, for example.

Stephen Daldry’s production isn’t a first class thriller, nor is it one of theatre’s great plays – as some of the reviews from London may suggest. But it is intriguing and unique enough to capture its audience and ensure nobody goes home disappointed.

The piece is almost a plea to its audience - a plea to be honest, a plea to try and understand each other and plea for all of us to show love. This is particularly shown through the dialogue that is spoken directly at the audience, as opposed to the character that is being spoken to.

The set is brilliant – and at times a little scary – and the acting is first class. Donaghy as Inspector Goole is superb, while Darwall Smith and Healy both produce excellent performances. In fact, there’s not one actor you can fault (perhaps the same can’t be said for the ensemble or “extras” – why, oh why, are they there?), and while the play could be sped up by erasing many of the long pauses (it stopped being funny the first time it happened), we have here a credible and worthwhile production.

In the end, An Inspector Calls is pretty much everything you’d expect from an English thriller – one or two surprises thrown in, but ultimately, you’ve figured it out way before the closing credits, which isn’t always such a bad thing.

As for that “putting it to bed” case, the jury’s hung.


Production Shots:
None available


Further Information:
None available