REVIEWS REVIEWS
We meet a bully. He's in a panic. He's about to be found out. A Government
Inspector is thought to be in town, incognito. What is he to do? He's the
Mayor so who can he blame?
Alistair Beaton has done an excellent job in translating Gogol's 19th
century comedy into a 21st century play (although this production verges on
the pantomime at times). Its themes of government corruption, bribery and
verbal bullying/grovelling up and down the 1830's class hierarchy are as
relevant today as they were in Russia 170 years ago. This need to know
one's place is referred to several times by the Mayor, played by Graham
Turner as a northerner (as are many of the cast), as he sets himself up as
whiter than white.
Set in a country town miles from nowhere, the play opens with the Mayor
insisting his officials put their respective departments to rights. The
Commissioner for Health (Barry McCarthy) is, at least, to provide clean
night caps for hospital patients, The Magistrate (Pip Donaghy) to remove his
gaggle of geese from the court, and the Director of Education (Steven Beard)
to provide school teachers who can teach. It will be their fault if the
inspection fails. Bribery has been the name of the game and the town is now
to pay the price. The clown-duo, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky (Daniel Abelson
and Stephen Ventura), who provide us with comic relief, are sent off to the
Inn to find out if the stranger in town really is the Inspector.
This stranger is Khlestakov, and is played most convincingly by Alistair
McGowan - head and shoulders above the rest. Unknown to the townspeople he
is in fact just a lowly registrar from St Petersburg, penniless after having
lost his money at cards, and on his way to his father for more. Khlestakov
is our con man by default. With his identity mistaken he and his servant
Osip (Toby Sedgwick) enjoy a few days as guests of the Mayor whose wife and
daughter both flirt for his affections. He then takes advantage of his new
position to receive a flow of bribes from officials and townsfolk alike.
Only after he has left does the town discover they've been duped now that
the real Government Inspector has announced his arrival.
Very little has been done in the way of imaginative lighting or props. The
straight back wall of the stage is divided into eight sections. These
sections are folded over each other to provide us with either a red
'interior wall' or a grey 'outside wall'. The only props are chairs and a
bed. The chairs are used to full effect in the second act when there is a crowd
scene involving all the disgruntled townsfolk. On the whole the set is
somewhat dull. The sound effects of stomach rumblings, snoring and general
noise do little to add to the atmosphere of the play.
Alistair McGowan, playing it straight, carries the play. It is an interesting theme but
needs a more forceful Mayor, and a wife (Selina Cadell) less of a pantomime
dame. Billed as a comedy it is certainly funny in parts, particularly the first act, but the second act is somewhat laboured and lacked that vital spark. © JMB
“The Government Inspector” is in repertoire at Chichester from the 24th June to the 10th September, 2005.
