"The Government Inspector"

May 10, 2018 — Upon learning a "government inspector" is on the way
to uncover corruption, discrimination and other abuses, a governor and his administration is thrown into turmoil, launching a series of cover-ups and payoffs, most of which are laughably incompetent. Sound familiar?

We can certainly relate to this in present times, but this particular case took place in Tsarist Russia in an 1836 satirical play by Nikolai Gogol entitled (what else?) "The Government Inspector." This production at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire was newly adapted and directed by artistic director Neil Pankhurst, with Winni veteran John Piquado serving as assistant director. Pankhurst was also scenic and sound designer. Colorful costumes were provided by Tracy Theatre Originals of Hampton, New Hampshire.

The play was performed by the Winni Players Community Theatre which assembled the largest cast I've seen in years. I won't attempt to name all twenty-eight of them, but suffice it to say this group of non-professional actors outclasses many professionals I've seen.

I will name a few of the principle players. Jim Gocha appeared as Anton Antonovich, the frazzled governor trying to save himself from disgrace. His wife, Anna Andreyevna, was portrayed by Ursula Minch Boutwell, in one of the best performances of the play. Maggie Godsoe was their daughter, Marya Antonovna.

One of several women playing male roles was Delaney Andrews as Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov, a poor low-level civil servant who pulls off a brilliant deception that nearly brings down the government. Khlestakov's servant, Osip, was played by Barbara Webb, another woman in a male role. These female actors, though very good, represent one of my problems with the play. I was having trouble imagining them as men, and that took something away from the performances, at least for me. I suspect, this being one of the largest casts the Winni Players ever assembled, they may have run out of male actors for all the roles.

The nearly three-hour-long play with lots of dialog went off without a hitch in this first-night performance. But frankly, there were some flat spots. It didn't have quite enough energy to sustain the audience's enthusiasm throughout. Granted, the theater was probably less than half-filled, but I detected a restlessness among the patrons. Call it audience fatigue. Even the laughs were few and subdued. However, I commend the cast, director and all involved for taking on this play, one of the Winni's most ambitious projects since I've been a regular patron for more than a dozen years, and look forward to many more.