REVIEW: An Inspector Calls, Farnworth Little Theatre

It is not an easy to job to review An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley without revealing too much of the plot, however, the play is about the Birling family who are in the midst of celebrating their daughter’s engagement.

The festivities are dampened when an Inspector Goole pays an unexpected visit and explains he is investigating the suicide of a young woman. His startling revelation reveals the whole family’s conceit one by one.

Director Edwina Freeman has created a nice intimate setting, in the round, which puts you right at the heart of the production. The simple set for this small stage was perfect.

As for the cast, Peter Schofield as Arthur Birling, the self-satisfied capitalist father was (as usual) excellent and masterly controlled the production. Sally Griffiths, who stepped in at the last minute, was outstanding as the morally compromised mother Sybil, a fine performance.

Matt Rigby gave a great performance as the righteous Gerald Croft who is celebrating his engagement to daughter of the house Sheila Birling, played here with control by Lindsay Heap.

Ben Latham also gave a good performance as the drunken son of the family, Eric Birling.

Derek Darlington is especially fine as the impassioned Inspector Goole and really draws the audience in and sets the moods of the production from the get go.

The play leaves us with no answers, just the questions of life and the observations about the human condition.

The play is certainly thought-provoking and reinforces the fact that we should all be more considerate and caring to those less fortunate than ourselves and take responsibility for our actions.
Jason Crompton