One of the factors that makes the play captivating is the use of climax, the way it holds the audience all the way through, building up slowly, gathering the plot as it goes on and then finally ends in a stunning climax of mystery, for example the way the Inspector extracts small threads of information from the members of the family and slowly puts the picture together and narrows it down to the main culprit as the climax.
The who done it genre keeps the audience guessing all the way through the play, and as clues are solved and stories are unraveled the culprit becomes clearer, but as soon as one thinks he or she knows who it is, Priestley cleverly seems to switch to the inspecting of another character. This makes the audience engrossed in the action that is happening on-stage. The mystical appearance of the Inspector when the Birlings are having a celebration party, and Mr. Birling is giving a speech on how the modern man should live, then eerily the Inspector steps in as almost as he was instantaneously opposing the views of Mr. Birling, this seems to bring up questions of the inspectors background and who he is, as even the local constabulary have never heard of him.
But "An Inspector Calls" is more than just a well-made play; it is a play that attacks the social morals of the time. In the time of Priestley people only seemed to look after themselves, their time and attention was not spent on the community, but on themselves. There was hardly any communal spirit or common wealth "But the way that some of these cranks talk and writ now, you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else as if we're all together like bees in a hive, community and all that nonsense". The Inspector in the play is a mysterious man who comes and goes without a trace and seems to have no background. The Inspector is a channel for Priestley's views and criticisms on the social morals of the time. The Inspector is a contrast to the Birlings as he seems to favour community responsibilities rather than individual ones. The Birlings represent the richer people in society that do not care for their fellow people in the nineteen tens, for example Mr Birling sacked the girl Eva Smith for striking for a higher salary, but the demand was minuscule. They are set so far away from the community that they did not even realise that Eva Smith had died, let alone how they helped to kill her, they find this out only when the Inspector brings it to their attention. Even though "An Inspector Calls" is a very well-made play Priestley really tries to hit home the importance of “Love thy neighbour”. Priestley was a socialist in his time, unlike most of the people around that time who were only interested in monopolising and individual gain. Priestley believed that everyone should either share their wealth or at least help the needier. He thought that the continuing monopolising of the system would be immorally wrong and selfish.
At the beginning of the play, J.B. Priestley gives a very elaborate and detailed amount of stage settings, lighting and character descriptions. I feel that these details were meant to linger throughout the play on the set. For example "The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and home like." This should be portrayed through the extremely large table which is the central point of the beginning. The size of the table shows that although the characters are a family, they aren’t close, not even to eat and celebrate with each other. At the very beginning the audience should be led into the production through some very grand doors, to feast the eyes on a ‘perfect´ family enjoying a family celebration. This technique gives it a sense of intrusion and makes the audience intrigued to find out what is going on within the family atmosphere. In the production must portray the vast wealth of the family through expensive and precious ornaments round the room. The set will be authentic and traditional to the early 20th century. The rich colours of costumes are an excellent way of showing the wealth of the characters. It will then be plainly obvious to see from the maid clearing the table to the indulging in cigars and port that this ‘happy´ family are very wealthy. They must also seem to be very pleased with themselves, just as in the stage direction at the beginning. Being so happy and ‘pleased with themselves´ makes a good cover for the deceit and corruption hid behind the silk cravats and elaborate gowns.
I feel that the Inspector had the most important role of this play. In my version of An Inspector Calls I would have Bob Geldof play the part of the inspector because he is a tall man who doesn’t seem so because of his humble posture. He is also an emotional character who will change with the characters. He will portray their conscience which is hidden away from each of the characters and the Inspector will exploit their faults signally and harshly, the televised version of the play has the Inspector very square and emotionless, however the west end version shows the inspector to be very emotional and attacking towards the Birlings which is how I would prefer to portray him. Bob Geldof is forty nine (almost in his fifties as J.B. Priestly wished) and “he speaks carefully, weightily, and has a habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking”.
The Inspector will slowly but surely reveal the truth about the characters and the story from their background to their foreground. The character which is the subject of the Inspectors interrogation will face the Inspector at the opposite end of the table, this will help the inspector to get all the facts out and lay them on the table and then piece them together.
The Inspector will enter the house through the hall way but their will be no movement of the front door and Edna will not introduce him. He enters the room when Edna enters to clear the dishes. The characters will also not realise the presence of the Inspector until they cross his path and make eye contact. The Inspector will begin his duties about a matter of fact manor, as he interrogates each individual at different times his attitude towards them will change.
To begin with he will speak harshly to Mr Birling and infuriate him gradually with his position as the person in the winning corner; he will also grow impatient with Mr Birling because he finds it hard to show the errors of his ways to him until the final twist at the end, after all the Inspectors not perfect.
When speaking to Sheila he will start with an open mind about his enquiries and he will gradually sympathise with her situation because of the remorse that she shows. As the story continues the Inspector will develop a level of respect for Sheila because she seems to be going through an ordeal which allows her to grow up at the end of it all.
When addressing Gerald Croft the Inspector will begin with a stern manor, Gerald who is already in a state of shock will not be bothered by the tone of the Inspectors voice, the Inspector will then have a slight understanding for Gerald’s actions and he will accept that although Gerald does not seem king now, he is when he feels he has to be, the Inspector wont show him any respect for what he has done nor will he sympathise with him.
When the Inspector communicates with Eric he will already be in an understanding mood because of his sympathy for Sheila and because of his knowledge of the situation, he will also develop a level of respect for Eric as a weak person who was strong when he had to be and for that reason the Inspector will not cross examine Eric.
When the Inspector speaks to Mrs Birling he will start with a pitiful tone in his voice, pity for the children of Mr and Mrs Birling, he will then move more towards a pathetic look on her behalf and finally disgust and satisfaction for pointing out her errors.
His final speech will be aimed mostly at Mr Birling and Gerald Croft for still feeling pompous, he knows that his work with Eric and Sheila is finished because they understand their errors and he feels that Mrs Birling will be truly disappointed by the events when the people around her find out her wickedness.
The will leave by Sheila moving over to open the door for him, at no time during the play will the Inspector make any tender movements, he will sit in a chair which has already been drawn out.