His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen – until 29th March 2025
Reviewed by Fiona Leyman
5*****
Who doesn’t enjoy a gripping ‘Who Dunnit’ thriller? J.B.Priestley’s Multi-Award Winning An Inspector Calls is once again touring and delighting audiences across the UK. Having originally appeared on London’s West End in 1946, this timeless tale never fails to hook an audience from its opening scene.
The Birley’s are celebrating their daughter Sheila’s (Leona Allen) engagement to Gerald Croft (Tom Chapman) when a mysterious Inspector calls at their door. The death of a young lady has brought him to their household in the middle of the night and as the story unfolds, each member of the family has secret links leading to the tragic suicide of this poor girl. So, who’s most at fault?
Ian MacNeil, who designed the West End and International set for this production is back with this touring company. The Birley House is the focal point of this productions striking set. A remarkable structure that unfolds to reveal a working Birling’s dining room inside. The simplicity of the rest of the set, including a red phone box, the iconic streetlamp synonymous with this story and its cobbled street characteristic of those in the 1910s all complemented the stage and gave the home the attention it deserved. The added feature of pouring and misty rain gave this thriller the tension it required. It is common knowledge that touring companies sometimes struggle with their set design due to having to move them so frequently, but MacNeil was able to give this little theatre a taste of a large West End production.
The lighting in this performance is another noteworthy aspect. Having first worked on this production in the 1990s for the National Theatre, Award-Winning Lighting Designer Rick Fisher uses straightforward but impactful lighting to evoke mystery and drama. He adds intensity by using spotlights to draw attention to the characters shadows, giving this thriller the atmosphere it needed.
In his role of enigmatic Inspector Goole, Tim Treloar (Silent Witness, Maleficent) excels. His appearance on stage captivates you with the drama playing out in front on stage. Where necessary, his witty remarks to the Birley’s answers, injects humour into this serious drama. Trelour, in my opinion, was the ideal casting for this role.
Leona Allen (Amazon Prime’s The Devil’s Hour, The Crucible) as Sheila Birley was another outstanding performance. Having seen her previously on stage at Alexander Palace, London in Mark Gatiss’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story, she did not disappoint in this role. The light-hearted character who first appears on stage abruptly develops feelings of regret about her role in this young girl’s death. Her portrayal of this part lends credibility to the talent of this young actress.
From its debut on the West End in the 1940s to its continued popularity across the nation today, An Inspector Calls has shown itself to be a timeless production. An intense thriller where simple actions of those in a higher socioeconomic class can have devastating effects of those of a lower class. A message from real life that is still relevant in today’s culture.