Imagine you have been asked to direct J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector :: Drama

Imagine you have been asked to direct J.B. Priestleys An InspectorCalls what Instructions would you give to the actor playing the part of Mr Arthur birle At the theory of the play, Priestley presents a typical Edwardianmiddle class business family. The arrogance and pomposity of theBirlings is clear immediately as Priestley remarks, they ar allfeeling instead pleased with themselves. As the audience areintroduced to the play the Birlings are celebrating the engagement ofSheila Birling and Gerald Croft.Mr Birling is a successful businessman who has been active in topical anaestheticpolitics and has had the honour of being Lord Mayor. He is amagistrate and has hopes of being given a knighthood which will makehim socially closer to Sir George and Lady Croft, the parents of his approaching son in law, Gerald Croft. Mr Birling is self confident, but hismore humble upbringing makes him social outcast and he enters thegroup of noveau riche the new rich. The way he speaks shows him uphe is not a highly intellectual man of upper-class grace, but a manwho still speaks with limited interests and narrow-minded views. MrBirling is the man of the house, and in the setting of the play, 1912,it was a patriarchal society, where men had more power and wereconsidered more important than women, as even Mrs Birling accepts,when your married youll make headway that men with important work to dosometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on theirbusiness. Mr Birling is a bully, he rules by intimidation and selfimportance. Mr Birling will be dressed appropriately for hisdaughters engagement, wearing an expensive tailor-made suit with tie,or a dinner jacket with bow tie. Mr Birling represents the oldergeneration, where he cannot accept responsibility for mistakes he hasdone. It is a huge failing in him, and ends up in attempting to coverhimself up. His weakness makes him appear desperate and foolish, andgives the Inspector the advantage of having Mr Birling cornered, LookInspector-Id give thousands-yes, thousands-. The Inspector hasbroken him, he has the make of the questions.The opening of the curtains starts with ironically with Mr Birlingspeaking in his very loud abrasive manor, Giving us the port, Edna?Thats right. You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a payoff offact, Finchley told me its exactly the same port your father getsfrom him. The atmosphere on stage at this point in the play, is verycheerful and light spirited, they are all celebrating the engagementof Gerald and Sheila, a very serene and joyous occasion.