The setting, props, lighting, camera work, costumes and makeup are massively let down by poor performances and wild liberties with the lines, to the point that much of Priestley's well crafted ironies are lost. It seems like some actors are learning their lines just before the camera starts rolling while John Farries seems particularly poorly cast and out of his depth with the character of Mr Birling. Leona Clarke's flirtatious Sheila would be fit for a character in 2014 but not 1914 and detracts from the play's didacticism. Martin Nadim's Inspector lacks eye contact, gravitas and authority, appearing more as Columbo than voice or moral reason. Penelope Wildgoos' portrayal of Mrs Birling leans into the cold upper-class matriarch to a good degree and creates a distant unapproachable character but sadly this contrasts poorly with J Farries portrayal to the point that Mr and Mrs Birling appear as little more than acquaintances. Some credit should be given to Jason Farries who portrays well the upper-class entitled Gerald Croft.
Having taught the text for a number of years I found the amateur nature of casting to be a real detriment to what could have been a wonderfully accurate portrayal of An Inspector Calls, much needed in the classroom. While the 2015 BBC production makes use of its budget and cast it becomes difficult as a teaching tool due to the constant flashbacks which remove the claustrophobia of the original production.
Here was an opportunity to become a classroom staple praised by teachers for accuracy sadly lost to poor casting and performances which struggled under the weight of sophisticated characters.
