Inspector Calls Flashcards
Set design intro
3 acts set in Edwardian era
Detective thriller with central message on social injustice
Tells story of Inspector questioning ignorant Birling family about a dead girl
1945 production in Moscow was minimalist in chambre theatre
Mine is naturalistic with expressionistic elements
Say what stage - ideally proscenium arch when Inspector entering
Set design floor
Highly polished geometric oak floorboard - dark to suggest underlying dangerous secrets
Covered over by red black and white knotted turkmen rug - hiding secrets beneath elegant layer
Orange stain in corner - Mr B split port when got rowdy - Inspector notices stain (attention to detail)
Torn bit of rug where Eric has furiously pushed his chair out
Drum revolve unless on traverse - inspector unravelling secrets - only start spinning when inspector arrives - speeds up gradually over time
Set design walls
Light yellow lincustra panel design with intricate floral patterns
Large paintings of hills around Brumley in one corner low down, Mrs Birling prioritises grand portraits of her family with meticulously moulded gold frame, Inspector stares at them (not afraid of challenging Mrs B and her inherited power)
Polished mahogany double doors - weathered gold door knobs, gold key holes with engraved gold key inside
Front wall lowers when Inspector arrives - as if audience are interrogating now rather than outsiders
Set design furtniture
Antique English oak dining table with carved expandable leaf and intricate silver patterns on rim of table
Regency mahogany and light brown leather chairs, the chair at each end has larger legs and arms - Mr Birling sat at one end for his self-authority
Edwardian walnut shaped 2 tier side table in corner with many expensive port and whiskey engraved crystal bottles
Gold rimmed grand piano in corner of room - collecting dust - inherited from Mrs B mother (theme of inherited wealth) but has little taste for it - Inspector runs finger over dust exposing gold (not afraid to get hands dirty to uncover secrets)
Slowly revolving diamond and glass chandelier rigged from above, chime in moments of silence because of tension, speeds up in time with drum revolve
Vocal acting points
Diction
Pace
Tone
Volume
Emphasis
Physical acting points
Gait
Gesture
Posture
Actions
Blocking
Expressions
Diegetic sound
Puddles splash from cars (wet weather)
Coach and horses trot past (wealthy area)
Rain falling on patio
Rain hitting window (attacks on private home)
Draught of wind blowing curtains (louder as play goes as they become more exposed)
Say location of speakers (rigged around auditorium so audience feel more ‘in the scene)
Non-diegetic sounds
Deathly silence after doorbell rings
Quiet high pitched instrumental when nearing confession (begin swell from start of questioning)
Mr Birling costume
Shirt:
100% cotton - not most expensive but not cheap
Pristine and white - sees himself as perfect and faultless
Black dinner jacket:
Tight-fitting - over indulged as result of privileged life
Dinner jacket - event that he needs to dress up for
Tie:
Silk - spends money on frivolous things such as accessories, likes to flaunt his wealth
Dark blue - conservative beliefs
Pocket square:
Embossed with Birling and co. - arrogance, need to publicly promote/flaunt his business
Shoes:
Very shiny - effort to convince Gerald that Birling family is classy and wealthy
Black Oxford - typical of Edwardian era, middle class businessman
Hair:
Strawberry blonde hair with centre parting - reference to Stanley Baldwin, Conservative Prime Minister, 1945 audience would recognise this, right wing views
Makeup:
Heavy red blusher on cheeks - looks warm after hearty meal, blusher wears off when Inspector begins revealing truth about Birling family
Gerald costume
Shirt:
Pristine and white - sees himself as perfect, innocent
Silk - can afford expensive material and wants to make good impression to Birling family
Smoking jacket:
Blue - capitalist, conservative beliefs and background
Soft wool - more expensive than mohair dinner jackets like Birlings are wearing
Gold button - publicly flaunt wealth
Bowtie:
Dark blue silk - expensive, right wing views
Gold circle - wealthy colour, like wedding rings however suggests that Gerald views marriage as superficial, just for show, just like his bow tie design
Shoes:
Evening slippers - Edwardian era events, Gerald is au fait with social events, classy upbringing
Black patent leather - wealthy and high class
C shaped toggle - C for Croft, has money to buy personalised shoe but his money is from family business not his own work, always has family on him
Hair:
Pompadour waves - Edwardian upper class
Makeup:
Flawless bass but subtle darker tones under eye and along jawline, crack in his perfect mask
Eric costume
Shirt:
100% cotton - same as father, implies his admiration and desire to be as authoritative as father from beginning
More untucked throughout play - flustered, childish, not composed, but also deviating from father’s strict views
Black dinner jacket:
Same as father
Dark wine red trim - can show slight socialist views, minimal so as not to disappoint his father
Bowtie:
Blue and red - holds capitalist and socialist views, childish attempt to please everyone (desperate for good public image), unstable character, has multiple contradicting views
Silk - does come from wealth
Round edges - known during Edwardia era as being unfashionable
Shoes:
Black Oxford - Edwardian era shoes, aligns with father
Scuffed - places less value on superficial (in his opinion) things such as looks
Brown laces - workers’ colour, more understanding than other Birlings and Gerald
Hair:
Short and curly - natural hair, therefore Mr Birling straightens his with oil, Mr Birling’s pretences and act, underlying lack of self-confidence so overcompensates
Makeup:
Blusher - too much to drink, warm and flustered
Pink stain on lips - drinking red wine, not experienced to realise he should wipe it off, childish, pink indicates innocence and vibrancy of life
Inspector Goole costume
Shirt:
Collarless white shirt - aligns himself with working class
Frayed at edges - subtle hints of poor act of appearing someone with authority, underlying working class
Attached collar - attempt to appear like a real inspector, attempt to be part of ‘white collar class’ (middle class)
Tweed Chesterfield overcoat:
Drab grey colour - working class but professional look
Tear on left pocket - exposed left wing ideology, subtle shabby look, not actually middle class
Tie:
Dark mahogany red - symbol for socialism, dark blood at hands of Birling family
Wool - sturdy fabric like Inspector’s unwavering attitude to expose Birling family and Gerald
Shoes:
Black Balmoral boots - workers boots, Inspector’s alignment with working class
Worn boot and frayed laces - not afraid of hard work to get message across, working class attitude, symbol of unwavering social justice
Hair:
Edwardian side-parted hair, slightly unkempt - style of William Booth, owner of Salvation Army charity, which 1945 audience would notice, Inspector’s selfless nature, aim of helping those less fortunate
Makeup:
Pale foundation - ghostly, unsettling, haunting Birling family for their actions
Slight eye shadow - intense, piercing eyes, unwavering attention to details
Mrs Birling costume
Skirt:
Purple - elegant, regal colour, keen to flaunt aristocratic background
Silk - expensive, Edwardia upper class social events, Mrs Birling is experienced showing upper class background
High waist and shin length: traditional Edwardian upper class, unrevealing - feels no need to impress anyone, self-importance, holds herself to high degree
Blouse:
White and silk - relies on Mr Biring money as she did when she grew up, spoilt
Edwardian ruffles - au fait with upper class fashion, expensive to dress well but can spend Mr Birling’s money on it
Tight fitting - proud of physical appearance which she takes pride in, not too revealing as no need to impress but keen to appear attractive and others to marvel at her, arrogant and self important
Ring:
Early 20th century platinum diamond cluster ring - Mr Birling feels need to win over Mrs Birling with wealth to disguise his middle class upbringing
Cognac diamond - produced in Australian mines showing how Birling family benefits from suffering and labour of working population, disregard for their emotions and wellbeing
Shoes:
Simple patent leather - expensive and long lasting, long lasting wealth and authority of Mrs Birling, very firm and comfortable in her upper class position
Heels - au fait with high class dinners, more authority with added height and harsh clicking noise when walking, does not care if it annoys other in this room
Gold straps - extravagant, subtle touches, no need to overly flaunt with all parts of outfit, experienced upper class member
Hair:
Dyed brown - no grey hairs signifying flawless mask due to so much experience and deceptive character, always strives for best appearance
Tightly pulled back - strict and proper demeanour, does not like mess or confusion seen with strands gradually coming down throughout as mask begins to crack but only when personally questioned, selfish
Makeup:
Pale, flawless foundation with powder - no shin, very clean, pale like attractive, upper class women of the time, another mask which benefits herself (appearance which she prides)
Sheila costume
Dress:
Purple - regal, takes inspiration from mother
Ankle length dress and elbow length sleeves - modest, no need to flaunt herself, comfortable with life however sleeve rides further up arm when others being questioned, questioning legitimacy and togetherness of her family
Gold laced waist and trim - subtle, not overly flaunting of wealth but mother has taught her to show it in mediation, Sheila is growing up in wealthy family with experienced mother
Gloves:
White silk - expensive, edwardian
Elbow length - modest and not revealing however more arm is revealed when her family and life begins to fall apart
Thin - youthful and elegant, makes her appear innocent
Shoes:
Edwardian leather white 2 inch heels and dark wood bottom
White and leather - elegant, with times from mother’s fashion experience
Small 2 inch heels - does not feel need for authority in same way mother does, more humble and less self-important, understands her less authoritative position as a young female in Edwardian era
Dark wood base - underlying dark secrets, hardly visible even from herself, innocence and not deliberate involvement, if Mrs Birling helped her buy shoes, she would have seen this dark side of them but did not affect her, cruel, deliberately ignorant character
Hair:
Loose low bun with tendrils shaping face - innocent, youthful face, frames her face as if she has nothing to hide, all is on display, once again Mrs Birling would have decided the hairstyle knowing family’s underlying secrets, manipulative character using daughter as innocent face on behalf of family
Blonde - unlike mother with brown hair, Mrs Birling dyed hair for mask, not obvious due to Mrs Birling mask being so good
Makeup:
Pale matte foundation - takes care over appearance with Mrs Birling assistance but a few imperfections clear (lumps), does not feel need for completely flawless mask as not aware of needing to hide anything, Mrs Birling selfish so does not realise flaws but makes herself flawless
Pink-tinted lips - youthful innocence and vibrancy of life, similar to brother, more childlike than Gerald
Edna costume
Pinafore apron:
White neat - takes care over appearing clean for Birling benefit, apron constant, obvious show of her lower class, uniform chosen by Mrs Birling, very traditional Edwardian maid outfit as clear reminder of not being same class
Linen - Mrs Birling does not permit her more expensive materials, remind her and audience of her lower class
Edwardian black leather low heeled shoes:
Edwardian maid shoe - Mrs Birling au fait with times and hierarchical differences
Black, very polished but clear wear - working class but tries her best to appear presentable to fit in with Birling household, cannot afford new pair so has to polish excessively, visible with grey scratches on toes
Low heeled (1 inch) - Mrs Birling ensures she has lower social standing, practical shoe rather than fashionable
Edwardian gauntlet gloves:
Almost elbow length - used when serving Birling’s, as if she might pass on disease of lower class characteristics to them
White leather - very clean, makes Mrs Birling feel comfortable, strict and likes order
Thin red band on inside of glove - seen when putting on to serve Birling’s, hidden socialist views, Birling family ignorance with political opposition being right in front of them however they do not realise
Hair:
Tightly pulled back bun
Grey hairs coming through even though she is young (tiring, suffering work)
Makeup:
No makeup, not enough money (no one to impress, nothing to hide - innocent)
Parcan use
Narrow beam with hard edges for dramatic effects
Not very controllable so used for bold washes too
Profile spotlight use
Narrow with very hard edges but precise to highlight certain characters
High angle so limited shadow
Fresnel use
Wide or narrow using barn doors
Soft edges and can spread very wide - naturalistic washes
Birdie use
Narrow beam with soft edges for subtle highlights or subtle shadows
Gobo, gel, angle, contrast use
Gobo - create pattern
Gels - colours
Higher angle = less shadow
Use contrast for difference between Birling house warmth with harsh outside world
2 rehearsal techniques and purpose
Actioning - add active, transitive verb to every sentence. allowing actor to ensure every sentence is delivered with an intention. Physical intensity and can suggest gestures, blocking e.t.c
Status exercises - assign number 1-10 for each character in scene, play role with designated status in comparison to others, can help actor determine level of status most suitable, can suggest appropriate gait, posture, pitch, volume e.t.c
