The Government Inspector– Much Needed Hilarity

Just when you think Washington, D.C. is the most self-aggrandizing example of amorality, vanity, and vice one could imagine, along comes an uproarious bastion of ersatz officials in provincial 1836 Russia whose blatant incompetence, selfishness, and exultant buffoonery rivals our own government. What was once deemed exaggeration, however, now seems as relevant as it does rollicking and absurd. That it’s also tragic is an issue for another conversation.

Mayor Anton Antonovich (Michael McGrath, here an obtusely cocksure hoot) has discovered, somewhat late, that a clandestine Government Inspector is being sent to appraise his town. Panicked, he calls together a roster of dunderhead officials in hopes of masking the mess they’ve made of local environs while lining their own pockets.

Stephen DeRosa, James Rana, Kelly Hutchinson, Michael McGrath, and Luis Moreno

There’s a Judge (Tom Alan Robbins) who keeps geese in the jury box, a School Principal (William Yuma’s), who passes illiterate children in exchange for a surfeit of gymnasiums, a Hospital Director (Stephen DeRosa), who has overseen the building of a facility with rooms that compare, in size, to kennels, and a wide-eyed Doctor (James Rana, making the most of silent film faces), who understands no Russian and can therefore not practice.

When the John Waters look-alike Postmaster admits to reading and sometimes sentimentally keeping incoming mail, those assembled realize said Inspector may already be in town. (Arnie Burton, wonderful in this part, but he oddly does nothing with the role of Osip.) Landowners Bobchinsky (Ryan Garbayo) and Dobchinsky (Ben Mehl), who resemble the cough drop Smith Brothers and act like two of The Three Stooges, have sighted a sophisticated young man from St. Petersburg ensconced at the inn even as they speak. It must be him! (Garbayo and Mehl play off each other with nincompoop finesse.)

Michael Urie and Arnie Burton

Actually, Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov (the splendiferous Michael Urie), though from a good family, is a fourth level clerk. Having lost his last ruble in a dice game, the dissipate youth prepares for suicide. If only he weren’t standing within view of that seductively distracting mirror.

Servant Osip (Arnie Burton) discovers Hlestakov gun in hand, and gamely offers to help. Should he not manage to kill his master, Osip promises to beat him to death. What other way out of poverty, shame and the hounding hotel staff – the innkeeper’s wife (Kelly Hutchinson, portrayed on her knees as if a little person, propelled by ratcheting elbows) and waitress (Mary Lou Rosato).

Ryan Garbayo, Michael Urie, and Ben Mehl – (the landowners have broken noses)

Suddenly, the Mayor and tag-along Bobchinsky storm in. We hear what they think as well as what’s said aloud as Antonovich and Hlestakov, each with his own agenda, manage to converse saying next to nothing. Antonovich bribes the stranger calling it a loan. He then invites him to stay in his home.

Both the Mayor’s enormous, painted and festooned wife, Anna Andreyevna (the operatically amusing Mary Testa) and dour daughter Marya Antonova (Talene Monahon), set their caps for the handsome Inspector. A purportedly improvised-on-demand song about Marya is a scream. (Sound Design and Original Music by Greg Pilska.)

Mary Testa and Michael Urie

Hlestakov tells the truth early on, but his story is dismissed as subterfuge. Discovering the town’s mistake, he makes full use of opportunity, accepting, then soliciting bribes from all and sundry, concocting an alter ego of such talent and position he even takes credit for ghostwriting Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Alexander Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin.

A welcome party results in one of the great physical comedy drunk scenes in theater. Michael Urie employs reactive body parts in seemingly out of control ways and sequences original to him. Mobilization, confrontation with furniture and guests, demonstrative gestures, and hyperbolic speech are sheer joy. Those in attendance react with the expression and precision of finely honed farce.

Talene Monahon and Michael Urie

Jeffrey Hatcher’s Adaptation is quick and clever, filled with double takes and double entendre. In his capable hands as those of Gogol, no one is spared. The production is zaney, energetic and rip-roaring fun. Get out of the heat and laugh.

Director Jesse Berger does a splendid job with physical comedy, timing, and use of Alexis Distler’s inspired, two story, doll’s house environs, each with a separate set of curtains. Though some of the simpleton officials are less vivid than others, only Talene Monahon as the mayor’s daughter doesn’t hold up in a role that could be so much more. Vis a vis direction, I don’t understand her purposeful clumsiness. Moments of audience acknowledgment are winking and fluid.

Tilly Grimes Costumes are terrific, especially the landowners’ plaids and confections that wear the Mayor’s wife. Hair and Wig Design by Dave Bova is seamless and appropriate.

Though a well-oiled, Rube Goldberg machine, the day is carried by Michael Urie whose creativity, energy, focus and ebullience offer one of the great pleasures of a jam-packed theater season.

Also featuring Luis Moreno as An Imperial Messenger and The Police Chief.

Adapter Jeffrey Hatcher-from the program: I grew up in Steubenville, Ohio, a town so corrupt that on election night my father used to go downtown to watch the sheriff’s deputy’s dump ballot boxes into the river…So, to me, Gogol’s Russia doesn’t seem far away at all. Amen!

Photos by Carol Rosegg
Opening: Mary Testa, Michael McGrath, Michael Urie, Talene Monahon

Red Bull Theater presents
The Government Inspector
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from Revizor by Nikolai Gogol
Directed by Jesse Berger
New World Stages
340 West 5oth Street
Through August 20, 2017