Opening Stage direction Flashcards
Date
It is an evening in spring, 1912
The setting of the dining room
The dining room is of a fairly large suburban house
The setting of the home/dining
not cosy and homelike
The lighting should be pink and intimate until the INSPECTOR arrives and then it should be brighter and harder.
The Inspector shines a light into some of the dark places which the Birlings do not wish to be illuminated.
Arthur Birling at one end, his wife at the other, Eric downstage and Sheila and Gerald seated upstage.
Seating arrangement of the Birling’s Family
The purpose of Edna’s role
EDNA, the parlourmaid, is just clearing the table,
Priestley shows that the Birlings have money - the props all indicate this - champagne glasses, port and cigars are all luxury items that they enjoy. Their costumes are also indications of their wealth.
champagne glasses
Arthur Birling description in the opening stage direction
Arthur Birling is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in this middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in this speech.
Mrs Birling’s description in the opening stage direction
His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior.
Sheila’s description in opening stage of direction
Sheila is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.
Gerald Croft’s description in the opening stage direction
Gerald Croft is an attractive chap about thirty, … very much the well-bred young man-about-town.
Eric’s description in the opening stage direction
Eric is in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
