Bribes, mis-directed contracts, mis-allocation of public money, fiddled expenses. Panic. Sound familiar? Read more …
A penniless nobody from the big city arrives in a small town, where he is mistaken for the all-powerful government inspector by its corrupt and self-serving officials. They all have to work together fast to clean up their act – shredding incriminating documents, issuing gagging orders, blacking out the media.
The Government Inspector’s hilarious and vicious expose of the corruption of (petty) power pulls off that rare trick of providing belly laughs and food for thought in a single entertaining evening at the theatre.
This Government Inspector is full of fun, vivacity and all-too-relevant satire, making it an evening of comic entertainment that feasts ears, eyes and brain.
For the most part it bangs along at a rollocking pace, leaving nothing but an echo of laughs in its wake. A celebration of the very best of theatre, this is a fantastic night out worthy of your well-earned wages.
A raucous, bold and colourful comedy that exposes the greed and desperation of those in power.
Laugh, reflect, drink if you will, and do enjoy those musical interludes.
Admittedly, subtlety is not the production’s greatest strength. And some of the slapstick is slapdash.. But the show is undeniably effective in hitting its targets square on, and also buoyed by the musical lift of having actors pick up and play instruments during scene changes.
This is a vivid, impressive show, with a kind of physical and satirical energy that British theatre too often lacks; and at its best, it features some fine ensemble acting.
The flyer shows a wad of money being offered to potential audience members but no bribes are needed to go and see this salutary show.
The tremendously integrated live music and the lovely moments of highly physical ensemble playing are still there, but the altered cast sends the piece in interesting new directions.
Theatre Preview: The Government Inspector, King's Theatre
On Tour, from Wednesday February 27, 2013, until Friday April 19, 2013.
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