The Government Inspector

Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing Nikolai Gogol’s 19th century comedic farce, The Government Inspector. The thrilling play I attended on Thursday November 5, 2015 was adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Matt Foyer, and produced by Jeanette D.Farr at the Glendale College Auditorium Mainstage Theatre. This funny contemporary production illuminated the absurdity and vanity of human behavior. The 90-minute comedic face, performed in the grand Proscenium theatre, had a clever and unexpected series of plot turns, which ultimately lead to a flashy performance at the show’s conclusion. The plot of The Government Inspector articulates on a case of mistaken identity, when distressed, the civilians of a small local town mistake poverty-stricken
Each actor is worth noting, but standouts include Dion Aghajani as Bobchinsky and Michael Skaf as Dobchinsky. Director Matt Foyer makes sure to keep the audience intrigued and alert by keeping the cast of college students/staff on their feet for a nonstop 90 minutes. The actors, playing larger-than-life versions of themselves, are impressively convincing in their roles. The ambitious and hot-headed Greg Stone provides plenty of laughs as he becomes slowly disillusioned with the dysfunctional state of rehearsals. Eryn-Jean Norvill is captivating as a ditzy film starlet out to prove her theatrical acting chops – replete with frequent references to The Lion King. Mitchell Butel shines as an egomaniac rehearsing his Oscar acceptance speech in his dressing-room mirror while fantasizing about his sexual conquests at the awards after-party. Zahra Newman’s striking singing voice is also masterfully showcased in the play's
Holding a reflection up to the audience, amidst the laughter there are also poignant reflections on love and loss. The Government Inspector performed at Glendale College Auditorium Mainstage Theatre is unlike any other comedic farce performed in Los Angeles. If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, and watch a play with good humor, I guarantee you will chuckle a few times at the melodramatic production. It features a top-flight ensemble cast working at the height of their comic powers, all playing exaggerated and highly colored versions of themselves, and they’re a delight to