Written by Patrick Chavis
An Inspector Calls is playing now at Vanguard University at the Lyceum Theatre in Costa Mesa from June 22 – 30, 2024.
American Coast Theatre Company’s production of An Inspector Calls delivers on the story and lighting. However, some uneven performances from the ensemble lessens the impact. Still, it is a solid attempt at this classic, and it is a classic. What a doozie of a plot that delivers enough thrills for fans of the genre.
Story:
An Inspector Calls is a famous British morality play that premiered in the 1940s. The play is set in 1912 and follows the Birlings, a wealthy family owning a successful factory. The Birlings are sitting down to dinner to celebrate the recent engagement between Sheila (Gabrielle Paul) and Gerald (Dane Hobrecht), when they receive the news that a worker at one of the factories has committed suicide. A diary entry that implicates the family is found, and an Inspector (Ryan Miller) is sent to investigate.
Direction/Lighting:
Director Connors Berkompas’s direction of the piece adequately translated on the stage. A lot of the blocking and movement in this piece were pretty good. How the lighting — from lighting designer James Huffman — hit certain actors just in the right spot was in no way a coincidence. A highlight of the show for sure was the noir-like lighting from Huffman. It was gorgeous, and the color palette of white, black, and sometimes gray added to the moody noir aesthetic I believe the production aimed for.
The biggest issue with this production was getting through some of these passages more smoothly. There are just a few too many noticeable gaffs not to notice. That being said, the recipe for something excellent is already there. I could see this group of actors, with a little more time, really delivering something excellent. There were many wonderful performances, and An Inspector Calls has a solid story line that touches on highly relevant issues. Fans of the mystery genre will get a kick out of the writing.
Dane Hobrecht delivers an impressive, undeniably studied, and measured performance as Gerald. It is one of the more complex parts of this piece. They did an excellent job with his character. Gabrielle Paul performs well as Shelia. I enjoyed her physicality on stage and the delivery of her accent. Luke Desmond’s performance as Eric is heartbreaking to watch and incredibly effective. His performance in the lit chair was enthralling.
Despite its flaws, An Inspector Calls at Vanguard University does enough for most audiences.
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Thank you for the wonderful piece on Grace McLean by Zack Johnston!!