An Inspector Calls Reviews

Matt C + Ed N from Portsmouth, UK

REVIEW

We vistied the theatre on the 24th of september. We went to see the play as we are studing it for our GCSE'S. We personally found the setting of the play was sometimes difficult to comprehend and we were confused by the use of two contexts. I think they could have inproved on this by having only one. The Strong points of this play included the very good actors and the exceptional set and was extreamly realistic. The set was very clever as it showed the Birlings higher status compared to the Inspector and Edna but at the end the birlings came crashing down. Also all the clothes were representing the characters personality the director was very clever and used a pathetic fallecy. Overall i would recommend this play to anyone studying this for GCSE'S or anyone intrested. This was a fantastic play to go and see at the Novello Theatre i would go and see it again.

David Samuels from England

GOGOL 19TH CENTURY

A brilliant production. Same theme as the Government Inspector by Gogol; hence inspector Goole Like with Gogol the Birlings have a naive trust in authority In Gogol the town is expecting a central government inspection on the quality of their services. A drunk turns up and they think HE is the inspector. He runs rings round them. Making fools of them The ending is the same. The actors freeze into waxworks. They realise their lives have been run by a fake. Dont trust those that rule us is the message.

Anonymous from Anytown, AT 55555

AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE! 5 STARS

An inspecter Calls is a marvallous production. The actors were brilliant, you could really feel what was going on, like it was real. Their costumes were brilliant, they really went with the sinister mood about the performance. The set was beautiful, especially the house. The inspector, well what can I say? Nothing was better. If you are going to see this production, sit in the front row so when the house explodes you can pick bits of pottery and keep them a a souvenier. I really hope you go, it was a fantastic performance.

Betty Christensen from Walnut Creek, CA USA

WHAT A WINDFALL! I LOVED IT!

I was trying to fit in as many plays as I could on my 5-day trip to London in November.. this was hands down my favorite! I'm still thinking about it 2 months later...would love to see it again, but am back on the other side of the pond. The psychological suspense transfixed me... the main characters were whirling around in an undertow created by their own life choices and attitudes.. seeming more inclined to finger pointing than introspection.. I found myself being annoyed by all the peripheral characters wandering around the edges of the stageset throughout the performance.. then in the end I felt like the inspector's inquisition turned on me.. making me wonder what person in my life was represented by these "gray" people I had found annoying and distracting, and what effect my ignorance might have on people like them... the play had deeply personal implications for me...

C. Bowman from Bath, UK

AN EXCELLENT INTERPRETATION

Under Stephen Daldry's direction, this production of An Inspector Calls was excellently executed. It was suspenseful throughout, while maintaining an occasional humour in certain areas. The set was unlike anything I have ever seen before on stage, and used to its full potential. The only criticism I could have would be to say that the Inspector rushed the odd line here and there, but, although this could be seen as a fault, what this did do was to ensure that he always had the audience's attention, even just for trying to hear what he was saying! All in all, though, a fantastic production, which I would highly recommend.

Kris champney from britain

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

i came to visit the novello theatre to watch "an inspector calls" as i am studying it at gcse for a peice of coursework.i thought that the opening was very effective with the rainfall and also the talking from inside the house and the siblings scrounging around amongst the remains that edna had just threw out. i also noticed that the context changed as there was no war at the time the play was set . i also think that the setting was very good, i really liked the way that there was an actual house and not a random table with chairs in the middle of the stage. i also thought that the house in the distance gave it an extra effect as every other play i have watched is just a house in the middle of a field. all the actors were amazing, it seemed as if it was actually happening and that it was not a show but reality as they new their lines so well. the inspector was perfect. he was a small man with alot of authorityand power,well so it seemed. i didn't fully understand what edna

KRIS CHAMPNEY CONTINUED from BRITAIN

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

CONTINUED she lurked in the dark but came out when needed worked well. the lighting was outstanding. i loved the way the stage was divided by the young birlings and the elders.the street light was good as when the character needed to be emphisised they would go under the light to stand out more. this play, i believe will help me alot with my coursework as i now fully unerstand it and also no extra detail. i strongly recommend it to all ages and thanks for the help and thanks for a good time.

Anonymous from Salisbury, England

OLIVER E

We visited the Novello Theatre on Thursday 24th September to watch ‘An Inspector Calls’. We went to watch the because we are studying it for GCSE. The opening was good, but I thought it was a bit weird, the boy trying to lift up the curtain don’t really get until my teacher explained it to me. The actors I thought were really good. They made me believe that all of it actually happened and that he was an inspector. The lighting was cleverly done; I liked the bit at the beginning where the inspector’s shadow was on the house above where Gerald and Birling were standing. I found that bit really good. At the beginning I didn’t know it was in 1945, I thought it was in 1912 like the rest of the play. The special effects were interesting. The bit where the house collapsed I found a bit scary and random, but I liked it. It put some excitement into the play. I would recommend it to people who I would think would enjoy it like older people but I didn’t find it the interesting play to watch.

Anonymous from London, UK

THE PLAY THAT WAS A STRUGGLE

I saw the play last night but found it a struggle. Not the play itself, but trying to hear two of the leads. The actress playing Sheila Birling was too quiet - we were sat at the very top of the Grand Circle - and had to strain to hear her. Mostly we could not. The inspector was also incoherent at times, as he sometimes appeared to be rushing his lines. Some of the action also takes place at the edge of the stage, which; for those not sitting in the stalls; is nigh on impossible to see. Mainly, however, the people sat around us posed the biggest obstacle to being able to both hear and engage with the play. They were mainly school parties of teenagers who whispered, giggled, unwrapped sweets, rustled bags and whatever else. All I would say is, the play is worth seeing but book late (at the box office) so you can find out when the school parties are coming and therefore avoid them. Also consider sitting near the front....then you can hear (and see) everything on stage.

Anonymous from uk

WAS VERY ENJOYABLE AND ENTERTAINING

i went to see "An inspector calls" on the 3rd of november on a school trip as i am studying it for my GCSE's i thought that having the children and other town folk was really confussing and i didnt get it. i liked the set: the 3D house worked well and costumes where well suited to the characters. i felt that the play was more a comedy then a serious drama and i spent alot of the performance laughing at Mrs Berlings charcater. i dont know if it was intented to be a comdey or not but compared to the book it was very different. the inspector sometimes rushed his lines and the message of what was said got lost which was a shame as i really enjoyed reading the book. the house falling down was really unexpected and made me jump!!! i didnt understand why they had it. overall i suggest you go see this production epsicaly if you are studding it, although be prepared for it to not follow script and re read the book before doing exam/coursework.

Dr Ray from Essex, UK

A VERY NON-GHOULISH GOOLE

The set is everything in this production which suffered from having Inspector Goole played most hammily by a small, uncharismatic actor (no idea who) who gabbled his lines and shouted to sound menacing..I recommend that he watches Alastiar Sim.

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