I would begin the scene with a toast to Sheila and Gerald. This will allow the audience to understand the cause for the celebration. The table would be cluttered with candlesticks, silverware, food platters, wine bottles and glasses, and a bottle of port. Priestly has shown the Birlings to be extravagant and very over the top. Perhaps these indulgences are a substitute for the lack of affection in Arthur and Sybil’s relationship. I have chosen to use this chaotic table as a reflection of their characters.
Once the dinner was over, the parlour- maid Edna would enter from the left wing and begin to clear the table. The fact that the Birlings make no attempt to clear anything from the dining table will hopefully convey to the audience their idle attitudes. Edna would then proceed to bring another port decanter through, and a box of expensive cigars for the gentleman. cigars through to the lounge for the gentlemen.
Edna would be wearing a straight black tunic, with a crisp, white apron tied around her waist. She would have a white cap pulled over her greying hair, and flat black pumps on her feet. This plain outfit is very sensible, which reflects Edna’s characters. It also represents the figure of responsibility she has within the Birling family. Edna is very loyal to her employers, and would never let the family down. Her outfit is the typical parlour- maid dress of the period.
The family, dressed in stylish dinner jackets and conservative, old fashioned dresses, would retire to the lounge downstage left. The elaborately clothed Birlings would be a stark contrast to Edna, and would reveal to the audience their materialistic characteristics. Mrs. Birling would pour herself a tall glass of wine from a bottle on a small table, and sprawl out leisurely on a long, cushioned sofa. This would show her elegance, and the fact that she likes the good life.
Mr Birling would do exactly the opposite- he would light another cigar, pour another glass of port, and settle down in a large, wooden armchair.
Gerald and Sheila would sit down next to each other. Gerald would have his arm rested on Sheila’s shoulder. She would cuddle close to him, representing that she wants him forever. Gerald would light up a cigarette, and offer them around.
Eric would lean on the grand piano, looking a bit out of place and slightly bored. He would fiddle too, with any of the ornaments close by to the piano. He would reach over to take a cigarette off Gerald, and leaves the packet on top of the piano.
At this point, soft music of the time would be played just above hearing in the background. This would represent the calmness and restfulness at this stage. You would also be able to see Edna in a far corner of the stage, dusting tables and shelves.
The family would stay like this; just talking, and enjoying themselves. But once the family starts discussing the war, the mood changes. Mr. Birling gives a very solemn speech about it:
‘Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war…
And I say there isn’t a chance of war…
There’ll be peace and prosperity everywhere- except of course Russia which will always be behindhand naturally…’
(Act 1)
Throughout this speech, poor, young children would be stood in the audience pointing and laughing at the family. They would be dressed in dirty shreds of clothes, with knotted hair, and dirt on their hands and faces. I have chosen to do this because it will be a contrast to the Birlings dressed in their elaborate clothes, with their immaculate hair and make up. But also, the fact that they are mocking the family shows that it is as if even though they are poor, and look a mess, and are treated badly by people such as the Birlings, they still get the last laugh.
The music would change to World War II air raid sirens, and the lighting would change to a blood red spotlight, focused on Mr. Birling. These decisions reflect the importance of this speech in Priestley’s play. The air raid sirens would fit in with the speech to do with the War, and the blood red would reprsent danger. After his speech, a loud chime symbolises the doorbell. The family appear uninterested, and wave it off with a:
‘Edna’ll answer it. Well, have another glass of port Gerald…’
(Act 1)
This shows their attitude towards simple things- they have a maid so why should they bother themselves with the burden of answering the door? After all, the family consider themselves to be of a higher class, and people of their social status should not need to do such common things. Priestly tries to portray their attitude as above as best he could. I considered the family to stay seated at the dining table throughout the whole evening, and asking Edna to retrieve their port glasses that are sat on the side table, because this would show just how lazy they are, and how they believe that they are better than everybody else.
Edna sends the inspector into the drawing room through the entrance foyer. The atmosphere instantly changes. The room should now feel tense, and the characters should appear to be very edgy and squirmish. This helps carry on Priestley’s idea of the characters to have had a good life; they are upset when confronted and have not been taught how to handle worry.
The Inspector would walk into the room confidently. I would dress him in straight black trousers, and smart black shoes with a buckle. For the top half I would choose a white shirt and a turquoise fifties’ style waistcoat, with a black cotton jacket slung loosely over his shoulders. He would wear a bowling hat on his head, and have a slight accent of some kind. I think that this will help the audience to get a better perspective of the inspector, and also differentiate him from the rest of the characters. I want him to look modern because it would make him appear as if he has stepped back in time, to teach the family a lesson. It would make him seem wiser and, in a way, make it seem as if he was going back to make a mockery out of the Birlings.
For the actual set of the play, I would have the dining room at the centre of the stage, at the very back. To the left of this I would have the main entrance, and the hallway that the inspector walks through to reach the drawing room. The drawing room would be downstage, and would consist of a grand piano, armchairs, cushioned chairs, tables, a fireplace and a gramophone on a stand in the corner. At the very front of the stage there would be a gutter, with old metal bins and wooden crates lying around. At the end the family would end up leaving their warm house, and sat on the crates. Their clothes would be torn at this stage, and they would be covered in dirt.
