REVIEW - Bristol Evening Post Tuesday ? ??th 1963 - AN INSPECTOR CALLS - AND SCORES A HIT

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Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare: Weston Dramatic Society in "An Inspector Calls," by J.B. Priestley

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Weston's oldest dramatic society have scored a hit wit their first offering of the winter season.

They could have so easily missed the target completely with this outpouring of Mr. Priestley's own particular brand of socialism. That they did not is due to the firm direction of William Fear and a well-balanced cast which is always competent and at times very moving.

First produced towards the end of the Second World War, the play repeats its moral just as convincingly as it did then.

A girl dies and a family is thrown face to face with itself, not in the least liking what it sees.

The society, fortunately, have the players able to get to grips with the consciences of the prosperous Birling family, from Brian Pike, who develops after a shaky start, into a well-rounded portrait of father, to Brian Austin, splendidly remorseful as the gin-swilling idler.

There is a shining performance from Mary Mee, daughter of the house, and an upper bracket one from Joy Wilkinson, her mother and "do-gooder."

A neatly turned performance comes from Clive Darke as the fiance who dallies with and then drops the other girl, and the Inspector receives a convincing portrayal - vocally - from Neville Redman.                                                                      J.B.

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REVIEW - Western Daily Press Wednesday ? ??th 1963 - THE INSPECTOR'S IN GOOD VOICE

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AN INSPECTOR CALLS, by J.B. Priestley. Weston Dramatic Society.

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                                           Inspector Goole ... Neville Redman            Sheila Birling ......... Mary Mee                             

                                           Arthur Birling ................ Brian Pike             Sybil Birling ..... Joy Wilkinson

                                           Gerald Croft ............... Clive Darke             Eric Birling ......... Brian Austin                                                                                                                                                           Producer ...... William C. Fear

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We ARE our brother's keeper. That, broadly speaking, is the message playwright Priestley puts over to telling effect in this oft-acted work.

And while kitchen sinks have come and gone, this play repeats its moral just a convincingly as it did back in the dark days of World War Two.

A girl dies, and a family is thrown face to face with itself - not in the least liking what it sees.

Weston Dramatic Society, fortunately, has the players able to get to grips with the consciences of the prosperous Birling family.

From Brian Pike, who develops after a shaky start into a well-rounded portrait of a man who has earned his brass the hard way and looks upon mill girls as money-making units, to Brian Austin, splendidly remorseful as the gin-swilling idler who has a major part to play in the girls doom.

In between sire and heir there is a shining performance from Mary Mee, daughter of the house, and an upper-bracket one from Joy Wilkinson, her mother, a do-gooder caught up in her little world of Christian-less charity.

Much depends, of course, on the police inspector himself, and he receives a convincing portrayal - vocally - from Neville Redman.

Mr. Redman is nicely biting, if at times slightly over-emotional, with his inquisition.

But, oh please, Inspector, do not be quite so statuesque in between striding about the room.

A final word for the first-class set by James Fredricks. Just the thing for Mr. Fear's first-rate production.        JOHN BARBER

 

REVIEW - Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald Friday ? ??th 1963 - GUILT AND RESPONSIBILITY THEME OF PRIESTLEY PLAY

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WESTON DRAMATIC SOCIETY'S PRESENTATION OF 'AN INSPECTOR CALLS'

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Guilt, and its impact on family relationships, has absorbed the interests of playwrights from Aeschylus to Eliot, and along with this theme has gone the concept of responsibility.

We are responsible for each other and from one generation to the next, and we must share our guilt.

The dominant force in the Oresteian trilogy is seen in a new light in Priestley's play from the 1940's, An Inspector Calls, when, weary of the War, he looks back accusingly at a previous generation.

This compelling and splendidly theatrical play, presented by Weston Dramatic Society at the Playhouse this week, is set in 1912.

        Triumphant Mood

The Birling family are at dinner and in triumphant mood, for they are celebrating the engagement of daughter Sheila. Her father, Arthur Birling, is especially jubilant in the knowledge that he is likely to be knighted in the Birthday Honours. An enormous portrait of him in his regalia as Lord Mayor smiles complacently upon the dining-room scene.

Nut the gods have set their curse upon the House of Birling and, like the avenging Eumenides, an Inspector calls to pursue their guilt.

Less nonsense talked about war in Europe and more thought given to family prosperity. That is the battle cry of industrialist Arthur Birling when the port leads him to sermonise. His reveries are interrupted by the policeman who is investigating the suicide of a girl, one Eva Smith . . . He has reason to believe the family can help in his enquiries.

They can. It would be unfair to those who do not know the play to disclose how far the Birlings, every one of them, are concerned with the girl, in fact partly responsible for her plight and untimely death. Suffice it to say that Arthur Birling was cursed the day he refused her another half-crown a week as one of his employees.

        Sense of Duty

From that moment, the unfortunate girl's existence is blighted by the Birling family - even by Sheila's fiance. Arthur and his wife are confused by their sense of duty. Only Sheila and her brother, Eric, can see what is wrong with the world. There are Eva Smiths and Tommy Smiths everywhere and, however remote they may seem, we are responsible for them through our actions, our words - even our very thoughts. And the guilt of one generation is passed on to the next, it seems.

The play moves from climax to climax, and what is better still, the audience can see them coming. The Inspector - whether he is a policeman or not - has a catalytic action on then characters and the dialogue flows at a cracking pace.

Family relations are strained, naturally enough, but there is not always in this production the feeling of a closely-knit family in the familiar surroundings of its own dining room. Mr. William C. Fear, the producer, has his players circling a most awkwardly-placed table and tying themselves in knots in the process. The result is unattractive grouping and a restless feeling which does not help any of the performances.

        Exciting Moments

The Dramatic Society miss none of the many exciting moments of this entertaining play. It is odd, however, that only Brian Pike, in the role of Arthur Birling, should have attempted a North Country accent. The rest of his family appear to have come from somewhere else. He carries the part well enough, standing up to a much taller son in Brian Austin, who has some impressive outbursts.

Joy Wilkinson could, perhaps, be a little more maternal in her relations with her family, but she makes a formidable Mrs. Birling. Mary Mee is convincing as Sheila and Clive Darke is a likeable fiance. Neville Redman takes the role of the mysterious Inspector and maintains quiet authority, with just the right amount of reproach in his voice. Olive Davey appears as the maid.

Also assiting in this most worth while production are John Hess (stage director), Paul King (stage manager), Elizabeth Kay (continuity), Jill Redman and Nan Hess (wardrobe), Jenny Briggs (properties), N. Leighton Norman (hon. business manager) and Eric Wilkinson (hon. publicity manager).

The production is repeated to-night and to-morrow when there is also an afternoon performance.                                 R.M.D.