Sheila’s character changes dramatically during the play, and this is one of the key points I want you to capture.
In Act 1 Sheila is celebrating her engagement to Gerald with her family, when the inspector came the atmosphere changed.
Sheila’s character at the start of the play is quite immature and sarcastic, this is one of the main points I would like you to capture the way that Sheila’s mood evolves.
The inspector questions Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith, which is that she had got Eva fired from a previous job that she had, and the inspector informs Sheila that this had something to do with her death. Sheila’s reaction to the inspectors’ accusations is that she feels terribly sorry for Eva and feels totally responsible for her death.
In act 2 Gerald reveals his part in Eva’s death, which Is that he had made Eva smith who had changed her name to Daisy Renton his mistress, which comes as quite a shock to Sheila but she knew in the back of her mind that he would stray one day but just not before they were even married and as a result Sheila calls of their engagement. In the same act Sheila also finds out about her mothers part in Eva’s death and is appalled. Eric’s involvement is also made public within the family but Sheila is more sympathetic and understanding with him than she is with the rest of the family. Her emotions during the play can change quite quickly which can lead to her becoming hysteric. Sheila persists on finding out the truth about what happened to Eva and the events leading up to her death whereas her mother father and fiancé Gerald are more concerned about shifting the blame and avoiding it being put on themselves. During this act Sheila becomes more aware of the inspectors role in the play.
During act 3 Sheila’s attitude and change of character is complete. In act 3 the Birling family find out that the inspector wasn’t an inspector at all and the story of Eva untrue, Sheila’s mother father and Gerald laugh it off whereas Sheila realises that It does not matter whether the inspector was real or that Eva and her death was untrue, She felt that the inspector was trying to tell them something, everything you do has an effect on someone else’s life and Sheila is the only one to notice this whereas the other believe that it is all one big joke and are glad that they are not to blame. In this act Sheila also finds out about Eric’s involvement with Eva and is more sympathetic and understanding than she is with the rest of the family. In this act Sheila is always trying to find the truth about what really happened to Eva, whereas her mother father and fiancé Gerald are more concerned in avoiding the blame. Sheila also takes more notice of the inspector and his way of questioning them all about Eva’s death.
In act 3 the Birling family and Gerald find out that the inspector wasn’t an inspector and he didn’t even work in the police force, and that no one had even heard of him and that the death of Eva was untrue. Sheila’s mother, father, Eric and Gerald all laugh it off and move on whereas Sheila realises that it doesn’t matter whether the inspector was real or that the story of Eva’s death wasn’t true she realises that everything happens for a reason and has consequences whether its because of what some one did or said they will all have consequences to follow no matter how big or little they are and Sheila tries to explain this to the family getting quite upset even angry about it and I would like you to move along the stage using the space and speak to the audience when explaining this I would like you also to show Sheila’s anger and upset by changing the tone of your voice and also projecting it and the facial expressions you will show as well Sheila also talks quite passionately about her views and it is very important that you capture that emotion and focus on it.
The costume you will be wearing is a typical white Victorian evening dress in fact the dress that Sheila wears has the resemblance of a wedding dress. Also remember that Sheila’s character in the beginning of the play is almost childlike and she becomes more mature and grown up as the play progresses.
