An Inspector Calls
By JB Priestley, directed by Terry Coyle
Reviewed by Amanda Jackson
Waipukurau Little Theatre
Until November 6
Tickets from Colour Plus
With such a startlingly good script, this classic thriller kept its audience totally engaged and the tension stayed until the very last line.
Not to be missed for various reasons, Terry Coyle
and his cast have done justice to a demanding play, keeping the dialogue crisp and fast and the interest palpable. The special projection was moving and effective and the voices were clear and audible. All the costumes were in keeping with the times, adding style and affluence.
The set was excellent, elegant and well lit, complete with chandelier and lovely occasional pieces. As a setting for the pending exposure, it had a subtle darkness to it also.
Owen Potter, as the bombastic Arthur Birling, struck a large and imposing figure, an inarguable head of the household, and kept his character intact with his accent and mannerisms. However, some speeches lacked realism.
As Gerald Croft, Simon Law was adequate in the beginning, a trifle distanced from the developments but with a genuine finish. As his fiancée, Lynne Goddard managed the brittle hysteria and her relationship with her brother with conviction.
Sybil Birling was played by Josephine Carpenter and again, as the play unfolded, her characterisation became substantial.
Michael Greenwood played the brash young lad with definition, nailing the character from the beginning, and his last scenes were extraordinarily good.
On to the stage came David Glenday as the illusive Inspector Goole, steely-eyed, unforgiving and relentless, and his presence lent the proceedings a sense of ill ease. JB Priestley wrote the play so well, it was with relish that the lines cut through the garbage of lies and it is very satisfying to have such precision in his dialogue. It was good to feel the pace picking up, to wipe the staginess from the acting and replace it with growing discomfort that looked genuine.
As Glenday delved and struck, the posturing crumpled and the revelations manifested themselves on the faces of the characters far more realistically. This is a good play, a substantial piece of literature, well done and well finished, and, by and large, well acted.
