They Came to a City

One of JB Priestley’s lesser staged plays, They Came to a City,  nine people from different walks of life and class are brought by unknown means to a mysterious, modernistic and empty castle-like structure. This fixed set was well built and painted to give an almost surreal feel, at an unknown location.

The nine people are Sir George Gedney, a misanthropic aristocrat; Malcolm Stritton, a bank clerk who is dissatisfied with the current political system; Dorothy Stritton, Malcolm's domineering and jealous wife; Alice Foster, an unhappy waitress; Mr. Cudworth, a money-obsessed businessman; needy Lady Loxfield and her compliant daughter Phillipa; cynical, free-thinking seaman Joe Dinmore; and Mrs. Batley, a practical charwoman.

The nine interact -- not always agreeably -- and after a time, they discover the castle overlooks a city, and a door opens to allow them to access it. We never see the city, but the nine return to the castle and discuss what they've experienced. Some see the city (which is implied to run on socialistic principles) as a utopian society, others as something they would never want to live in. Before sundown, each of the nine must make a permanent decision whether to stay and live in the city (and never return to their original homes), or to leave the city forever.

First to appear are the mother and daughter Lady Loxfield and Phillipa Loxfield played well by Jo Foley and Elizabeth Ormston. As scenes progress Phillipa is more hopeful of the situation as nothing really happens in her life and this is well captured by Elizabeth. It becomes evident that Lady Loxfield could not cope without her daughter and this is well acted.

Mr Cudworth arrives and as the money driven business man, played by Peter Corser, feels there must be great business opportunities in the City, but eventually returns disappointed. Peter makes a great character of one looking for a fast buck. Sir George Gedney (David Gorton) could have been on the golf course prior to his arrival, only once not holding his golf club, and spoke with a great delivery. So too, did Sue Jones as Mrs Batley, who was generally unmoved by the predicament they were all in and was often amusing. I liked her characterisation a great deal.

When Dorothy Stritton (Rachel Jefferson) arrived initially without her husband, she is not pleased when he appears with Alice Foster (Sarah Wilkins) who clearly likes to talk! Malcolm Stritton (Ben Mills-Wood) is definitely henpecked by his forceful wife and they provide some absorbing moments. Meanwhile Alice strikes up a friendship with Joe Dinmore (Lee Morgan-Salcombe) who works at sea in a ship’s engine room. Lee had a strong accent and it was fascinating to see how this new relationship ebbed and flowed, particularly in Act 2.

After a fanfare is heard, they look over the city wall and see many  people gathering happily which attracts their interest. Various characters argue amongst themselves whilst Mrs Batley remains a steady presence and after a second fanfare, the door to the City opens and one by one they enter.

In Act 2 we find out how they felt about their visit, which included some well-handled dramatic interchanges between the characters. Stand-out speeches included; Alice in a row with Mrs Stritton, Joe full of enthusiasm for the City, Mrs Batley’s explanation she was staying, fed up always being told what she had to do, Malcolm’s explanation he was not going to be bullied anymore at the bank – he leaves, but returns to Dorothy as only Malcolm could, plus the tense exchange between Phillipa and her mother .

Well directed by Samantha Gessey, this was an unusual play, and needed to be well done, which it was, without a single weak link.  Congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent production.

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