Drama club highlights hypocrisy (Darlington & Stockton Times) The first night of Gainford Drama Club”s latest production opened to a packed Academy Theatre on Wednesday.

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley is on until next Saturday and is well worth a visit as its attack on comfortably-off people has plenty of relevance today.

There have always been haves and have nots and this play highlights the damning effects the actions of the rich can have on those less fortunate. Priestley wrote this play set in 1910 to attack the hypocrisy that he felt went hand in hand with the veneer of respectability so prevalent in Edwardian society.

An excellent performance was given by Mike Sillars as the bumptious patriarch Arthur Birling. who prides himself on being the level-headed practical business man. His pride takes a huge fall as the story unfolds.

The play has plenty of humour to relieve the suspense created by the inspector”s inquiry. excellently played by a brooding David Simpson.

Most of the humour is provided by the Birling”s daughter Sheila. superbly played by Jean Manners. She confirms the old adage that if you don”t laugh in the face of adversity then you”ll surely cry.

The play has two main themes and a moral for mankind in terms of social responsibility. The cast coped extremely well with the longer pieces of dialogue needed to present information about the family and how each has helped cause a young girl”s suicide.

The set. which sees all the action of the three act play. perfectly recreates the stuffy and pompous atmosphere of the Birling”s house. The family is portrayed as typical of the social climbing “noveau riche” in the fictitious North Midlands industrial city of Brumley.

Mrs Birling”s incredulity as events unfold is well portrayed by Judy Le Mare. and Paul Illingworth plays a convincing wayward son. Allan Jones is a perfectly upper crust Gerald Croft. son of Lady Croft. (Darlington & Stockton Times)