By D. A. Blackburn
In opening the final production of its 2006-2007 season, "An Inspector Calls," the Jewish Ensemble Theatre has taken on a classic English tale of death and intrigue, and delivered an insightful production with relevance in the here and now.
The work, first staged for public consumption in 1947, is the product of prolific English journalist, novelist and playwright J. B. Priestly – a man known for exposing hypocrisy and inspiring social consciousness. It's these very ideals that drive "An Inspector Calls," and that make it such an enduring treasure.
Set just prior to the outbreak of World War I, the play spends an evening in the home of Arthur (B. J. Love) and Sybil (Mary Wright Bremer) Birling, upper-crust citizens of Brumley, England. It is a joyous occasion, as the Birling's daughter, Sheila (Inga R. Wilson), and her fiance (Dax Anderson) have just announced their engagement, a union joining two of the town's most powerful families and businesses.
But the joy of the moment is short-lived. Arthur, patriarch of the family, seizes the opportunity to impart a little wisdom to his soon-to-be son-in-law and to his own son, Eric (Patrick O'Connor Cronin), who he believes lacks the constitution of a successful businessman. This advice – that man must concern himself more with his family and business than with the common good – sets an eerie tone to the evening. Coupled with Arthur's belief that the "rantings" of a few German officials do not mean that war is a foregone conclusion, the advice divides the men along generational lines. It also serves as a precursor to drama yet to unfold that evening.
It's at this point that the gruff conscious of the story, Inspector Goole (Alan Ball), appears, questioning the family about the gruesome suicide of a young girl that day. Over the course of the play's second and third acts, the interrogation of family members reveals that each of them has, unwittingly, touched this young girl's life in a negative way. The family's secrets are revealed, pitting them against each other, and inspiring introspective reflection among them.
The audience, much like the Birlings, is forced to confront the cold realities of day-to-day human interaction. Priestly, however, saw fit to give the work a devious twist – sorry, no spoilers here – bridging the gap between morality tale and thriller, and making the work both entertaining and affecting.
The JET has done well in placing "An Inspector Calls" in the sure hands of Managing Director Christopher Bremer, who cast an ensemble of notable professional thespians. The work comes to life with precision and poise. Consistently strong acting allows the characters to develop gradually, and though accents are probably not a spot-on match to the brogue of Northern England in 1912, they are steadfast and believable. Without fail, the performers exhibit a caliber of acting generally associated with larger theater troupes, and Bremer succeeds greatly in moving them about the stage and coaching their interaction.
The production also owes much to the excellent work of its design team, who assembled a breathtaking home for the Birlings and period costumes and properties which keep the story firmly planted in time and space.
(FOR "REVIEW BOX")
REVIEW:
'An Inspector Calls'
Jewish Ensemble Theatre Company at the Aaron DeRoy Theatre on the campus of the Jewish Community Center, 6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield. Wed., Thu., Sat. & Sun., through May 19. Tickets: $29-$39. For information: 248-788-2900 or http://www.jettheatre.org.
