The government inspector is a comedy about a group of local officials of a small town in tsarist, russia who hear about a government inspector who is investigating the town, travelling incognito. Gogols deeply silly satire of smalltown corruption offers a riotous portrait of rampaging selfdelusion. Just as the crooked officials congratulate themselves on his departure, a message arrives from the real government inspector demanding an immediate meeting with the mayor. The government inspector, an entertaining satirical play, focuses on a small russian village that learns of a secret, undercover government. He is referring to political comedy the government inspector, which opens the 201819 mainstage series at ucs collegeconservatory of music on oct. The fierce satire of the russian bureaucracy in the nineteenth century was a common theme for gogol in his works, and the government inspector, interpreted by many in this genre, was only permitted to be staged thanks to the interference of tsar nicholas.
The department of theatre presents the government inspector, a satire written by nikolai gogol and adapted by jeffrey hatcher 80. Thrown into a panic, the governor and his dysfunctional cronies desperately struggle to. The government inspector is a deadly pedestrian account of a satire that. The stories gathered here, meanwhile, range from comic to tragic and describe the isolated lives of lowranking clerks, lunatics and swindlers. The government inspector is nothing short of the greatest play in russian. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to gogol by pushkin, the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human. Apparently pushkin had actually been mistaken for a government inspector at one point in his life. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. The question and answer section for the government inspector is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. The classic satire runs march 621 at elgin art showcase in downtown. Satirizes the corruptible nature of power, the cupidity and stupidity of bureaucratic officials. For anybody not familiar with the story, set in the 19th century, a small town in russia are expecting the arrival of a government inspector from st petersburg.
In this video i discuss the 1836 satire the government inspector by nikolay gogol. This year, the spring play takes a trip to mother russia with the government inspector. The government inspector alma classics ebook, 2020. Sep 20, 2018 a good satire bites when it is written, says director richard hess, but a great satire withstands the test of time and continues to bite for future generations. The play, originally written by 19th century russian author nikolai gogol, depicts a corrupt town whose citizens attempt to impress an impostor they believe is a government official. The government inspector, nikolai gogol book summary. Feeling it is too dangerous to continue the charade, he disappears posthaste. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to gogol by pushkin, the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing. The resulting shenanigans are often highly amusing, even if, by the stringent standards of the companys other forays into classical comedy, the government inspector resides on a rung of. When the crooked leadership of a provincial village discovers that an undercover inspector is coming to root out their commonplace corruption, the town weaves a web of bribery, lies, and utter madness.
Inspector, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. This version of a government inspector is a yorkshire take on gogols 1836 fantastical russian satire. Satirical comedy the government inspector opens ccm mainstage. The government inspector is a satire on corruption and politics in a small town. Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. The government inspector study guide contains a biography of nikolai gogol, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The author observed a wide scale of negative social behaviour and characteristics. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to gogol by.
A good satire bites when it is written, says director richard hess, but a great satire withstands the test of time and continues to bite for future generations. The government inspector, essential revision notes notes. A giddy government inspector, restaged by the red bull theater. At the heart of gogols satire is the inefficiency and corruption in russias rural provinces, due in large part to the central government s inability to maintain control from a distance. Independent players are having a blast with satire the government. This deserves to be available to anyone interested and an updated remake is long overdue. May 24, 2017 a giddy government inspector, restaged by the red bull theater. When they hear that a government inspector is coming to. The government inspector drama classics paperback september 1, 1997. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, the government inspector exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity. Roxana discusses gogols personal eccentricities, tsar nicholas is surprising support for the work, and the difficulties present in translating a text across both time and language. As was readily apparent to gogols contemporaries, the government inspector is a satire of the extensive bureaucracy of nineteenthcentury russian government.
The focus of the plays satire is the corruption of petty bureaucrats, but within that focus is a much larger target. The government inspector is a social and a moral satire that laughs out the human nature and the social conditions is russia at that time. A biting and frequently hilarious political satire, the government inspector has been popular since its first performance and was regarded by nabokov as the greatest russian play every written. Campbell, writing in the forward to the the government inspector, gogol once stated that in the government inspector i tried to gather in one heap all that was bad. With robin nedwell, freddie jones, jack wild, aubrey richards.
Written by nikolai gogol in 1836, the politicalsatire is. Satire in the government inspector paints a picture of absolute power and mechanisms of totalitarianism. Apr 25, 2006 a biting and frequently hilarious political satire, the government inspector has been popular since its first performance and was regarded by nabokov as the greatest russian play every written. Our third and final video for the government inspector giving you just a taste of roddy doyles hilarious version of nikolai gogols satirical comedy, the government inspector. Inspector, is a satirical play by the russian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. Campbell, writing in the forward to the the government inspector, gogol once stated that in the government inspector i tried to gather in one heap all that was bad in. It is a satire on the shallowness of government officials and tells us timeless truths about the human condition. The government inspector is a satire on corruption and politics in a small town akvarious productions has earlier brought to the theatre fest plays such as the interview and baghdad wedding. The diary of a madman, the government inspector, and selected.
Dont see it if you are looking for something deeper, more dramatic, intellectual or moving. Through the wild inventiveness of gogols comic fantasy the play becomes a celebration of the grotesque and absurd elements in human nature and remains one of the great. Recently arrived in the town is a minor official k hlestakov, a man with no money or influence, but a. The government inspector 20 theatre photo gallery the. The government inspector at shakespeare theatre company. In nikolai gogols play the government inspector, set in provincial russia, more than 80 years before the russian revolution, the character ivan alexandrovich khlestakov is an upperclass gentleman. A mischievous civil servant is mistaken for an incognito inspector, sending a small town and its corrupt officials into chaos. Nikolai gogols the government inspector is a classic russian satire of provincial bureaucracy, a comedy of errors that satirises smalltown political corruption. When a provincial russian town mistakes the wrong man as an inspector from the central government, bribery overflows. The government inspector study guide contains a biography of nikolai gogol, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and.
The play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human greed, stupidity, and the extensive political corruption of imperial russia. The government inspector by nikolai vasilievich gogol context. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. What distinguishes gogols satire from the more savage and biting kind is the gentleness of his caricatures. However, the person who they think is the government inspector is actually just a lowly civil servant named hlestakov. When they hear that a government inspector is coming to town, they scramble to clean up. The diary of a madman, the government inspector, and. The corrupt, selfseeking officials of a small town in tzarist russia mistake a penniless clerk for a government inspector, and chaos, recrimination, and retribution ensue. Those who call the government inspector a satire have a lot more on their side. He mentioned this to gogol, who then turned it into a play.
Theres not a single person to root for in the red bull theaters production of the government inspector, nikolai gogols rollicking 19thcentury satire of bad behavior in the russian. Satirical comedy the government inspector opens ccm. Written by nikolai gogol in 1836, the political satire is centered around a russian town where all the of the town officials are corrupt. Use of satire employs wit in the form of irony to expose human folly in tsarist russia. The fierce satire of the russian bureaucracy in the nineteenth hundred years was a common theme for gogol in his works, and the federal government inspector, interpreted by many in this genre, was only allowed to be staged because of the interference of tsar nicholas. Independent players are having a blast with satire the. Steve connell and marilyn house rehearse a scene from the independent players production of the government inspector. See it if light funny satire of the town leaders when the govt inspector comes. Mar 02, 2020 in this video i discuss the 1836 satire the government inspector by nikolay gogol. Roger cockrell often quoted as russian literatures greatest comedy, the government inspector is a trenchant satire of the corruption, greed and stupidity of petty officialdom, and the crowning achievement of. Nikolai gogols outrageously funny satire of provincial bureaucracy is the perfect play at just the right time for our nations capital. The government inspector what makes something a satire. The shakespeare theatre companys first russian play.
Feb 27, 2020 steve connell and marilyn house rehearse a scene from the independent players production of the government inspector. Roxana silbert, artistic director of birmingham repertory theatre, sheds light on nikolai gogols 1836 satire the government inspector. Campbell, writing in the forward to the the government inspector, gogol once stated that in the government inspector i tried to gather in one heap all that was bad in russia. The government inspector therefore, is a social and a moral satire that laughs out the human nature and the social conditions in russia at that time. Jun 01, 2017 theres not a single person to root for in the red bull theaters production of the government inspector, nikolai gogols rollicking 19thcentury satire of bad behavior in the russian. The author observed a wide scale of negative social behavior and characteristics. By aedan reinert this year, the spring play takes a trip to mother russia with the government inspector. A comparison of gogols the government inspector and his dead souls, with a focus on the use of satire in his works.
Government inspector satirizes bribery and corruption. Shakespeare theatre company the government inspector 12. In gogols time in russia corruption was found in every arm of the government. Satire in gogols the government inspector and dead. The government inspector fairfax county public schools. This work is, because of its plot and many twists, recognized and appreciated in the worlds literature. In this classic satire on human vanity, the corrupt, selfseeking officials of a small town in tsarist russia mistake a penniless clerk from moscow for a government inspector. Mar 29, 2016 the government inspector is a satire on corruption and politics in a small town akvarious productions has earlier brought to the theatre fest plays such as the interview and baghdad wedding. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general russian. The inspector general the government inspector, nikolai gogol the government inspector, is a satirical play by the russian and ukrainian dramatist and novelist nikolai gogol. Feb 19, 2016 the government inspector at mary moody northen theatre the st. The ukrainianrussian playwright wrote the play as a satirical comedy of errors lampooning human greed, stupidity and the largescale.
The government inspector by nikolai gogal in a new version. This classic satire on human vanity and the corruption of elected officials is infused with the very modern problem of financial inequality making it more relevant today. The government inspector, also known as the inspector general original title. But in his second outing with the group this season, langham takes the troupe, and randall, back into familiar territory.
Classroom activities for the government inspector what makes something a satire. The cast of the government inspector rehearses monday in the mainstage theatre. Satire in the government inspector free essay example by. When the locals of a small town learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, a case of mistaken identity sends. Sep, 2017 satire in the government inspector paints a picture of absolute power and mechanisms of totalitarianism. Akvarious productions has earlier brought to the theatre fest. Michael urie and arnie burton star in the government inspector at the duke on 42nd street. A giddy government inspector, restaged by the red bull.
The government inspector literary elements gradesaver. Folio government inspector shakespeare theatre company. Comment on the style used by gogol in acts 3 and 4 gogol ups the irony, comedy, and incisive commentary on these bureaucrats failings in this middle act. Theater stages satirical government inspector westmont college. Gogols hilarious satire is often considered the funniest and most biting russian play of the 19th century.