An Inspector Calls
J B Priestley’s powerful and compelling play continues at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2010 as the Birling family are haunted by unforeseen events and a mysterious figure looms over them. It is a story with many questions arising and one where the lines between what is real and what is fiction are blurred.
Priestley was a well respected playwright and author; well known for penning what became known as his ‘time plays’ in the 1930s and 1940, whilst his play “An Inspector Calls” has remained an inspirational piece of work during the twentieth century. The play was penned sometime between 1944 and 1945, before premiering in Moscow shortly after and eventually making its way to London in 1946, where Alec Guinness stepped into the lead role at the New London Theatre. The play was hailed as a triumph of the stage with audiences and critics impressed by the ways in which it challenged conventions and tackled themes of social responsibility. It has meant that the play has since been seen on stages worldwide, witnessed by various generations of audiences and even adapted into two movies in the 1950s and 1980s.
Then a new production opened at the Aldwych Theatre in 1992 under the watch of Stephen Daldry, the famous film and theatre director behind the likes of “Billy Elliot” and “The Hours”. This production would continue for some time, closing and restarting at various junctures and eventually rearing its head at the Novello Theatre in 2009. Since then it has transferred to the Wyndham’s Theatre and continues to run strong, attracting many theatregoers and earning critical praise.
The story of “An Inspector Calls” centres on the Birling family as they gather for a dinner part in their home. They intend to have an enjoyable and peaceful evening but all of this is interrupted by an unexpected visitor in the form of Inspector Goole, a determined policeman with some shocking and indicting news. It seems that a girl has committed suicide and every member of the Birling family played a part in exploiting her in some way. The family is clearly stunned and Goole is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery before it is too late.
But as the show goes on it becomes clear that all is not as it seems as the lines between what is real and fiction begin to blur and the reality of Goole’s presence comes under question.
“An Inspector Calls” is at the Wyndham’s Theatre where it continues to book until March 2010.
