This is a slam.
Russian playwright Nikolai Gogol’s 1836 play THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR is a masterpiece. It is one of my all-time favourite plays. The final scene where the true Government Inspector arrives is one of the finest scenes in world drama.
Yes, it has it has its moments of satirical humour however essentially it is a serious work, an even angry work, lambasting the superficiality and corruption within Russian society at the time.
It is one of those works that are not, ‘of an age but for all time’. As long as human beings exist on planet earth, there will be abuses of power, deceptive bahaviour, corruption. Heck, one only has to look at the ICAC hearings that are taking place in this very town right at this moment.
So why…why…why..when a leading theatre company like Belvoir Street Theatre has the opportunity to put on a relevant revival of this great play…why do they put on a production that is so off centre, farcical, full of physical comedy and musical pastiches and lacking edge.
The tone of Gogol’s play was so taut, passionate and angry. None of this comes through in Simon Stone’s production.
Theatregoers who go expecting to see Gogol’s play be warned…I don’t think there is a line from the original play in this production. The program says inspired by The Government Inspector…This production felt more inspired by Michael Frayn’s NOISES OFF.
I am perplexed why an actor of Robert Menzies’s standing as a dramatic actor, one of my favourite actors, would be involved in such a production. I have seen him play major roles in so many great productions over so many years at the Sydney Theatre, playing so many of the great classical roles. His performance in the title role in Barry Kosky’s OEDIPUS was a marvel. What was he doing in this production?!
I believe Nicholas Gogol would have been appalled to see his play associated with this production…a production which comes across as a University Theatre Society’s collection of skits.
My response to Simon Stone’s THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR.
One word for it.
ANGER.