Russian literature is forever known for relatively large numbers of major characters and for being loooong. This is also true of Nikolai Gogol's comedy, "The Government Inspector," but somehow A.C.T.'s new production of two hours and thirty-five minutes sailed by. Performed in an almost sitcom-like manner, director, Carey Perloff's A.C.T. version of Alistair Beaton's translation, entertains audiences in an offbeat, light-hearted way.
Written in 1836 for the czar's court theatre, the play obtained the endorsement of the czar but was too strong a satire for officials and local press. I can see why - it has moments of such seriousness where the Mayor is accused of some pretty treacherous behavior, it's difficult to laugh at the sad predicament of the characters. However, the play still works. I credit lots of physical comedy, great actors, and a farcical tone massaged by Perloff. For me personally, the performances of the Postmaster, played by Anthony Fusco, and Bobchinsky, played by Joan Mankin, brought out the wit of the writing. Stephen Barker Turner's timing as the German doctor was spot-on, and Jud Williford's portrayal of Osip endeared me to his plight.
The story line commences with town (mis)leaders gathering to discuss the goings-on of the village and what mischief they can get into, when they learn almost immediately that a government inspector is en route to take stock on how they run things. In a panic, local townsfolk mistakenly assume a visitor at the inn is that inspector, and the plot unfolds from there. I'm not giving much away by putting this in place because it's a fairly straight-forward scenario created in the first few minutes of the play. After that set-up, other characters are introduced, all of whom play a part in creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Les Miserables' innkeeper and his wife blended in with the gossipy family from Pride and Prejudice.
Coming into the play, I assumed a Russian accent would be used, and I expected a bit more gruffness from the principals. When it wasn't there, it took me nearly an hour to get past that; I made the assumption that in order for the comedy to work, the characters would need more stereotypical Russian mannerisms. In retrospect, I don't think that's necessarily the case, although I worry that some of the plot nuance could be missed. I would love to hear what Russian-born San Francisco residents think of this interpretation of the nearly two century-old work.
To get a sense of the play's flavor, here are a couple of my favorite quotes: "All clever people either drink or grimace." This is from the first act. And from my favorite scene in the second act: "I have my position to consider... as Superintendent of Police, I take bribes; I don't give bribes!" The night of the press preview, A.C.T. provided complimentary Imperia vodka shots during intermission, which I thought was a nice touch. I tried to down my shot the sliding way I learned from locals when I visited Russia (then the U.S.S.R.) in 1989, but with cameras buzzing around, I feared a major spill disaster and chickened-out.
"The Government Inspector" continues A.C.T.'s trend this season of selecting brash, intriguing works. For additional perspectives on the play, here are the Mercury News review and San Francisco Sentinel review. Running through April 20, "The Government Inspector" is an amusing take on Russia's corrupt bureaucratic history, grimaces and all.
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Sarah Granger learned to review theatre productions in 1994 during a study abroad program where she earned credits for attending West End plays and musicals. She has acted, worked stage crew, directed and written plays, and she will always admire those who bring magic to the stage.
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