The Government Inspector

With thirty-three named characters, this play had a role for everyone.  The corrupt officials of a small Russian town, in the mid 1800’s, headed by the Mayor (David Daly) react with fear to the news that a Government Inspector (Alex Howell) will soon be arriving in the town incognito.  In fact it is a minor civil servant, Khlestakov, and his servant (Ellie Ball).    Hearing that he has been charging his hotel bill to the crown, the Mayor assumes that this upper class twit is the dreaded inspector.  But for some time Khlestakov does not realise he has been mistaken for someone else.  He moves into the Mayor’s house and when he realises that they think he is someone else, demands and receives ‘loans’ from the Mayor and all his associates.  Khlestakov also flirts with the Mayors wife (Jean Kerby) and daughter (Beth Howell).  I must mention Anne Troman as Dr. Hubner, who spoke in German and after every sentence the action stopped so we could hear the translation.  I also enjoyed the two landowners Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky (Liz Bennett and Carol Grice).  Before and after each act Jane Hetherington played the flute, which I thought was a nice touch.  With a simple set and good lighting the audience really enjoyed this production and so did I.

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