This is the show that, in 1992, catapulted director Stephen Daldry into the public eye and the world of Hollywood and Billy Elliot. His striking revival of JB Priestley’s 1945 drama took a tired repertory staple and completely reinvented it. A string of transfers and awards followed, and now here’s another chance to catch his multi-timescale interpretation with a new cast but the same expressionistic design.
Rather than contain the action in a single room of the home of wealthy Edwardian industrialist Arthur Birling , designer Ian MacNeil lifts their scaled-down house high above a World War II setting in which children scrabble through rubble to peak at the riches the Birlings are enjoying in 1912. But, one by one, father, mother, son Eric, daughter Sheila and her smug fiancé Gerald are summoned by the enigmatic Inspector Goole who announces the suicide of a working class girl who was once employed by Birling and subsequently turns out to have been linked to – and ill-treated by – every single one of them.
As Nicholas Woodeson’s no-nonsense Goole prods away at their consciences to unearth truth after truth, the implications of their actions become all too clear – yet even when their involvement is exposed, not all of them are prepared to admit their share of the blame.
Some of the acting tends to the over-emphatic, but Robin Whiting impresses as alcoholic young Eric, Marianne Oldham’s Sheila makes the journey from selfish complacency to some sort of social awareness, and Daldry’s production remains a powerful indictment of the moneyed class’s ability to sweep guilt and unpleasantness conveniently under the carpet.
Novello, Aldwych WC2B 4LD (0844 482 5170; aninspectorcalls.com) Tube: Covent Garden/ Charing Cross. Until Nov 14. £12.50-£47.50
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