Inspector-General

About this book

The Governor and Officials of a small provincial town in Russia are worried. They have received word that a Government Inspector is on his way. As they do what they can to cover up their own corruption and incompetence, a man arrives at the Inn and refuses to pay for his meals. Surely such an audacious act can only be the work of the dreaded Inspector! Meanwhile Khlestakov, a common copying clerk from St. Petersburg who has lost all his money at cards, is attempting to bluff and bully the landlord of the Inn he is staying at into giving him one more free meal. He is scared and confused when the Governor comes to confront him, but his tendency to tell fantastic lies and brag about his imaginary illustrious friends turns the situation to his advantage. This blistering satire by Gogol looks at the way greed and corruption make fools of ordinary men, and ordinary fools into even greater fools. Both funny and adroit, this is a sadly accurate portrayal of small-town (and large-city) politics the world over. Lamentably this play contains some instances of anti-Semitism. (Summary by Lucy Perry) Cast list: Stage Directions: Lucy Perry Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, the Governor: ToddHW Anna Andreyevna, his wife: Maria Kasper Marya Antonovna, his daughter: Tara Flynn Luka Lukich Khlopov, the Inspector of Schools: Nick Bulka His Wife: ImkeStevens Ammos Fiodorovich Liapkin-Tiapkin, the Judge: EccentricOwl Artemy Filippovich Zemlianika, the Superintendent of Charities: P. J. Morgan Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, the Postmaster: Ray Kasper Piotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, Country Squire: Simon Smoke Piotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky, Country Squire: Peter Tucker Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg: Seamus Dobbin Osip, his servant: Algy Pug Fiodr Andreyevich Liuliukov, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: Betsy Cooley Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: Wojtek Murawski Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: BeniaminoMassimo His Wife: Availle Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, the Police Captain: David Olson Svistunov, a Police Sergeant: Rosslyn Carlyle Derzhimorda, a Police Sergeant: Vanessa Cooley Abdulin, a merchant: bala Feveronya Petrovna Poshliopkina, the Locksmith's wife: Maryanka Mishka, the Governor's Servant: Etel Buss The Widow of a non-commissioned Officer: Anna Simon Servant at the Inn: Elizabeth Klett A Second Merchant: Mary Kay A Postilion: Availle A Gendarme: Elizabeth Klett Edited by: Lucy Perry