Mock GSCE Paper, for Clowns
English Thursday 10th November Time allowed – 1 hour 50 minutes (no interval) |
Question 1 – Have you seen An
Inspector Calls before?
|
Yes, seven years ago. It was my first time and you can read my review here, along with my embryonic writing style
|
Question 2 – Hasn’t everyone
seen this play by now?
|
Since opening at the National in 1992, it has had 3 West End runs and
6 major national tours, not to mention a Tony-winning trip to Broadway too.
So yes, they probably have. But JB Priestley’s play remains a stalwart on
English GCSE syllabus and so there’s always fresh eyes coming anew to the
drama. (Fun fact – Diana Payne-Myers (Edna) has been in two of those West End
runs and two of the UK tours, plus one in Australia too. I reckon it’s
because she knows her lines so well.)
|
Question 3 – Can you tell the
production is nearly 25 years old?
|
If we’re being completely honest, the iconic house of Ian MacNeil’s
set design is beginning to look a little creaky and in these days of
jaw-dropping effects from Wild to Harry Potter, its once-climactic moment
sputters by comparison. But it’s a mark of Stephen Daldry’s direction that
the play itself doesn’t feel at all fusty – its heightened theatricality
remains startling with all its inventiveness and meta- moments.
|
Question 4 – Isn’t Stephen
Daldry busy with The Crown?
|
Series 2 is already in production, but he has got an associate
director onboard with him here – Julian Webber – I’m reckoning he’s been busy
here.
|
Question 5 - Is it any good though?
|
|
Question 6 - Did the butler do it?
|
|
Question 7 i – Please use a
gif to demonstrate how freaking fierce Barbara Marten is as Sybil Birling
|
|
Question 7 ii – And another
|
|
Question 7 iii – And one more
|
|
Question 8 - How many people
does it take to do the costumes for this play?
|
More than you’d think. 8 people are named, including the 2 people who
do alterations, which is nice as you don’t often see them mentioned in
programmes.
|
Question 9 - What mark did you
get for your English Lit GSCE?
|
An A. Though we were the first year to have A*s, so naturally I was
disappointed. (Yes, I was ‘that’ boy at high school).
|
Question 10 – Can you shoehorn
in a late reference to the US election and Donald Trump somehow, for
relevance?
|
Into a (kind of) review about a play that preaches compassion, that highlights
the disparity between the younger and older generations, that determinedly
stands up for the rights of the poor against the bullish arrogance of the
upper classes? I doubt it.
|
|
See, I told you! |
Labels: Barbara Marten, Carmela Corbett, Clive Francis, Diana Payne Myers, Hamish Riddle, J.B. Priestley, Liam Brennan, Matthew Douglas