Gemma Hatton played Sheila, the engaged daughter, and she managed to show effectively the hysteria associated with her young character.
The almost comical character of Eric, played by Simon Parry achieved an escape from the general heaviness of the plot.
There was a distinctive performance from Diana Bourne in her part of the confident Sybil Birling. This was an exceptional performance, and deserves due praise.
Giles Cornah, produced a fine portrayal of the ambiguous Inspector, and he must be congratulated also.
For a small College the production was extremely successful, the reason for this was partly due to the actors but also the hard work shown by Mr Griffiths, the drama teacher, who showed a great deal of dedication throughout the production.
With the great deal of work put into the play by the actors, teachers, students and the designers of the stage, which added to the atmosphere of the play and the reaction the actors had after each performance, I would give the play 9/10. WELL DONE!!!
Chiller with twists
Reproduced by permission of the 24/04/1998
There can be very few people who would not agree that the Congleton
Players' performance of J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls was one of their
finest to date.
The seven cast members tackled the powerful period drama with immense
professionalism, rendering the audience trance-like until the very last line re
vealed the shocking twist in the tail and released the audience from the tale's
dramatic grip.
A superb back-drop of early 20th century decor set the scene for the intense
drama which plays with time in order to pose questions regarding certain grey
areas of our existence such as how one action can affect the life of another;
how our lives can be catalysts and whether we learn by taking responsibility
for our mistakes.
These complicated concepts were pulled off marvellously and, always
indicative of a huge success, members of the audience were left discussing
issues raised throughout the evening as they left for home on Tuesday.
The continuous action surrounds the refined Birling family and picks up one
evening in 1912 as the family celebrate daughter Sheila's engagement to the
equally refined Gerald Croft. Intellectual conversation and united appreciation
of the port comes to a premature halt however, with the sudden and
somewhat unwelcome appearance of the mysterious Inspector Goole,
played Players' veteran John McIlwreith.
From the moment he strides into the immaculate dining room the sinister
inspector easily assumes control in the Birling household, his awesome pres
ence dominating both mentally and physically, and altering their lives
irreparably for ever. . . . Fine and mature performances came from the
younger members of the cast: Rachael Hibbert was a delight as Sheila
Birling, a new comer to the players and only 16 years old. Clear and
effective, she brought a deep understanding to the role of the young woman
whose world is turned upside down in one evening.
Sheila's wild-living brother Eric is played by Richard Copestick who,
although filling in at a late stage, proved to be an invaluable addition to the
cast. His dramatic portrayal as the young but hard-drinking man who has
more than just a few skeletons in the cupboard was superb.
Rachel Jackson, who has been a member of the players for several years,
prompting and assisting with productions as well as acting, played Edna, the
family maid, who had the unfortunate job of literally showing the inspector
into the family's lives.
Although young Sheila and Eric clearly learn from their experiences it is
the more mature family members who attempt to dismiss the inspector's les
sons as swiftly as possible in the aftermath of the visit.
Arthur Birling, the players' chairman, was brilliantly unlikeable as the
wealthy mill owner, as was his wife, Sybil, (Doris McGowan), who delighted
in talking severely about the "culprit" of the play taking public responsibility
for his actions before she realised she had been preparing a convincing case
against her own son.
Philip Hope had the difficult task of taking on the more complex role of
Gerald Croft, whose character was not so cut and dried as the others. More
secrets emerge and the engagement between him and Sheila proves to be as
short-lived as the post-dinner port appreciation moment.
All eyes were on Inspector Goole however, who, thanks to the wonderful
John McIlwreith, was deliciously eerie throughout the evening, with his face
down-turned into a constant frown as he focused on each unfortunate in turn,
extracting their confessions before leaving them to deal with it as their
conscience allowed. Disappearing as suddenly as he made his entrance, the
family were left in a state of confusion, perhaps at one point wondering
whether he ever existed at all. In the wake of the visit questions remain un
answered and hover in the air like a bad smell until the final twist when all is,
well, not revealed.
For those who have yet to experience the atmosphere of the Birling's dining
room, seats are still available for tonight's (Friday's) and tomorrow's final
performances and tickets, priced at £4 can be purchased from the Tourist
Information Centre or by ringing (01260) 273947.
CAST: Arthur Birling: Peter Nicholson; Gerald Croft: Philip Hope; Sheila
Birling: Rachael Hibbert; Sybil Birling: Doris McGowan; Edna: Rachel Jack
son; Eric Birling: Richard Copestick; Inspector Goole; John McIlwreith.
PRODUCTION TEAM: Producer and director: Annabelle Hull; stage
manager: Jill Mason; assistant stage manager: Lorna Jackson; artistic
director: John Wilcox; set designed by: Tony Ansell and Annabelle Hull;
furniture designed by: John Hull; set and furniture built by: John Wilcox and
John Hull; set dressed by: Pamela Mein; properties: Pamela Mein and Ernest
Harrison; lighting: Martin Lawton; sound: Jill Mason; costume: Ann Kelly;
front of house co-ordinator: Julie Kennerley; front of house manager: Brian
Jefferson; catering: Dorothy Robinson; publicity: Doreen Cliff and Mary
Edwards; box office: Margaret Hoult.
J.N.
