| The Government Inspector | Bell Shakespeare |
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Following a tremendously successful season of Romeo and Juliet last year, the nation’s pre-eminent drama company, Bell Shakespeare returns to QPAC’s Playhouse in October with a classic Russian farce – The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol, directed by John Bell.
Written in the 1800s, The Government Inspector stars two of Australia’s finest comic talents William Zappa and Brisbane’s own Darren Gilshenan – star of Bell Shakespeare’s The Servant of Two Masters and winner of the 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play.
Roger Pulvers’ hilarious, fresh and topical adaptation has 19 characters played by only two actors, requiring a miraculous display of quick changes and deft characterisation.
The story is set in a small town at the back of nowhere, corruption is rife and the Mayor and his cronies have got it made. Then they learn they're going to be subject to an undercover government inspection, and panic. Mistaking a penniless nobody for the inspector, they swiftly fall victims to their own stupidity and greed.
Living and writing under the highly repressive reign of Tsar Nicholas 1, Gogol ridiculed the bureaucracy of the government whilst exploring universal themes of human corruption and the folly of self-deception.
Through the wild inventiveness of Gogol’s comic genius, the play becomes a celebration of the grotesque and absurd elements in human nature and remains one of the greatest comedies of all time. Gogol's masterpiece has most certainly lost none of its bite.
“Gilshenan is a comedy genius who has audiences ranging from six to 86 rolling in the aisles.” The Sunday Telegraph
“[Zappa’s] powers of physical characterisation are amazing” Sydney Morning Herald
This performance runs 105 minutes without interval.
Bell Shakespeare presents
The Government Inspector
by Nikolai Gogol
Venue: Playhouse, QPAC
Dates/Time: 11 - 20 October
Preview: Thu 11 Oct, 7.30pm
Opening Night: Fri 12 Oct, 7.30pm
Times: Wed to Sat, 7.30pm; Matinee Sat 20 Oct, 2.00pm
Schools Matinee: Thu 18 Oct, 11.00am
Tickets: $23.50 - $41 (incl fee)
Bookings: 136 246 or qtix.com.au
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