Aisling Walsh's "AN INSPECTOR CALLS"
Review by Dennis D. McDonald
England, 1912. The wealthy Berling family, at dinner at their country estate, is celebrating the betrothal of their daughter to the son of another wealthy business magnate. The wedding will unite two textile business families to create an even larger business empire. The senior Berling is almost beside himself with anticipation.
Suddenly the Inspector arrives, unannounced. He informs the family that a destitute young woman has committed suicide.
There is consternation and arrogance all around — why has the Inspector contacted them about this poor lower class woman’s fate?
What is then revealed carefully and in great detail by the Inspector is that each of the people in this wealthy assemblage has known this young woman in the past and each was responsible in some way for pushing her to suicide. The revelations emphasize class distinctions, treatment of the poor, worker organizing rights, mistreatment of women, and divisions between the upper and lower classes that accumulate in a life threatening way. It’s a melodramatic story told skillfully and economically.
Cast performances are superb throughout. Despite the story’s obvious origins as a stage play and the time spent around the dinner table and in the drawing room, there are frequent flashbacks to various locations where staging and set design display the production team’s amazing attention to period detail. One particular flashback to a textile factory is stunning in its realistic detail.
This is a sad tale, grimly and efficiently told. Some scenes bristle with tension. The Inspector provides a steady and relentless anchor throughout and forces everyone to admit and own their own behavior. Highly recommended.
Review copyright (c) 2021 by Dennis D. McDonald
