Performing true to context
It’s vital that when you perform, your work is true to the context of the play. This is obvious with a period setting like An Inspector Calls, but it would also be true if a play was set in a specific modern setting. So what should the performer be thinking about?
Costume
Wearing a long skirt, doublet and hose from Shakespeare’s day or a tight Victorian corset will have a huge impact on your movements. You can’t slouch in a chair if you’re wearing Whalebone was used to form the cage petticoat of the Victorian crinoline skirt and as a cheaper substitute for ivory. around your chest!
Speech
An Inspector Calls uses Ordinary, everyday language and dialect. language and slang to help the 1940s audience recognise its 1912 setting. For instance, “squiffy” (slightly drunk) became popular in the 19th century but would have seemed out of date by 1946. Mrs Birling is shocked when Sheila, her daughter, uses this slang expression.
Accent
The voice and accent used should be appropriate for the character you are playing and the social context. Remember this isn’t about your personal view of accents and whether they are more or less desirable than the Received Pronunciation that we generally perceive as the standard.
Key moments
Think about the speech that Mr Birling gives at the dinner table in An Inspector Calls. Everyone sitting there with him would need to think about how their character would react. This depends on each character’s background and their opinion of what Mr Birling says. Their reactions should be very precise and accurate to hold our attention, as on the surface we’re just watching a family at the dinner table. It’s part of an actor’s job to highlight important moments in a play.
