The Government Inspector: A Great Evening at the Theater
In today’s world with all its stress, sturm and drang it is fun to spend a couple of hours in the theater laughing the entire time. That is what you will do when you see The Government Inspector, director Michael Kahn’s current play at the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of a play written in 1836 by Nikolai Gogol that makes fun of the Russian government, society and the Czar. The play was adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and it feels amazingly up to date and the jokes are totally relevant to today’s world. From the moment the action starts to the last moment of the play there is one laugh line after another and the actors have said that the difficulty in performing this play is timing the dialogue to let one laugh end before the next line is spoken.
I am lucky to call Michael Kahn a friend and we are both part of a group who enjoy having morning coffee at Java House on Q Street. Each time Michael directs a new play we all go and on Thursday evening we had the pleasure of having cocktails with the cast after the performance. It was great to meet them, some I knew from before and others for the first time. And what a cast it is. Many of them are well known to theater goers in Washington and in their roles in The Government Inspector none disappoint. Michael’s direction is brilliant as always and he had help this time from Assistant Director Gus Heagerty who he has mentored. Gus is now off to direct a production in Marin County. The costumes by Murell Horton are wonderful and compliment a beautiful set by James Noone.
The play is about the foibles of a local government in a small Russian city where bribery is the rule of the day. The Mayor and other town dignitaries hear that there will be an incognito Government Inspector sent by the Czar coming to see what is going on in their city. Confusion and mix-ups rule the day leading to one funny situation and line after another.
Derek Smith as Ivan, who the Mayor confuses for the actual inspector, is incredible in the role and brings a great sense of farce and even slapstick comedy to it. Tom Story, who many of you will know from his long list of successful roles is great in the smaller part of the Doctor. I intend to go back when Tom takes over the role of Ivan. Rick Foucheux is superb as the Mayor and Nancy Robinette as the Mayor’s wife is her usual brilliant self and always a pleasure to watch. Claire Brownell as the reputed nymphomaniac daughter is wonderful. Then there is Floyd King as the Postmaster and I have always enjoyed him in any role he has played and he surely doesn’t disappoint here. Sarah Marshall takes on three characters and each one is better than the last. She is truly a gifted actress. A young man who deserves honorable mention is Travis Blumer who has a couple of small roles but will take over the role of the Doctor when Story takes over as Ivan.
Again if you enjoy theatre and could enjoy laughing for two hours, take the time to get tickets today for The Government Inspector.