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by Sharon Landavazo The Government Inspector, playing at the Guthrie through August 24th, is a delightful surprise. Make no mistake, you won’t want to miss an evening of belly-laughs, witty dialogue, and actors who bring colorful characters alive with wonderful comedic timing. All this is wrapped together in Joe Dowling’s production of Nikolai Gogol’s tale of corruption in a 1836 Russian rural town. Peter Michael Goetz, as the corrupt mayor, Anton, is at home on the Guthrie stage and wears the part like comfortable, worn slippers. Anton and his officials are panicked when they learn that the powerful government inspector is due to arrive. They quickly devise plans to cover-up their misdeeds and misappropriated funds. The hospital, for example, built with no beds because the rooms are too small, diverts to a Children’s Hospital. The officials who have been on the take have to devise plans on how to be “the town that loans”. The hilarious roly-poly landlords, Bobchinslay and Dobchinsky, waddle about the stage with the notice that the inspector has arrived incognito. They mistake the penniless, self-serving, irresponsible, Ivan (Hunter Froest) who has gambled all his money, for the inspector. Ivan accommodates the town’s hilarious attempts at bribery, as he stuffs his pockets with cash. Anna, the mayor’s wife, (Sally Wingert) takes the stage with outrageously bold colors, in styles that match her tacky persona. Anton asks of his wife “why are you dressed like a lamp in a whore house.” In ultimate family dysfunction, Anna competes with her rebellious, petulant daughter (Maggie Chestovich) for the affections of the young, handsome, mistaken government inspector. And there’s the postmaster, (Jim Lichtscheidl) with his air of superiority, who spends his career reading everyone’s mail, rather than deliver it. To the town’s horror, he airs their dirty laundry. It’s a laugh every minute play. Joe Dowlings’ direction is “spot-on” with his vision of satire complete with double entendres in Jim Hatcher’s brilliant adaptation of political farce. During the production an unexpected power failure occurred on stage. This could have caused an interruption, but the acting ability of the cast shone through the dark as they continued to entertain. Anton, did a Russian jig, and as the lights returned, they seamlessly incorporated punch lines and continued the play. So, who is the real Government Inspector? I promise not to tell.
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