The Government Inspector
The Government Inspector, also known as The Inspector General (original title: Russian: Ревизор, Revizor, literally: "Inspector"), is a satirical play by the Ukrainian-born Russian dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol (1809 – 1852)[1].
Contents
The original text
Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to Gogol by Pushkin, the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human greed, stupidity, and the extensive political corruption of Imperial Russia.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into English many times, under the titles The Inspector General or The Government Inspector.
Translated into Afrikaans from the English as Die inspekteur-generaal by S.J. Pretorius and Marie van der Merwe. Published in Cape Town by Human & Rousseau, 1963
Performance history in South Africa
1952: Opened at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, on 13 December 1952, produced by Leonard Schach, presented by the Little Theatre Players. In the cast were Paul Malherbe, Robert Mohr, Percy Sieff, Arnold Pearce, Donald Inskip, Adolphe Grande. Decor by Cecil Pym.
1980: The Government Inspector in an English version by Edward O. Marsh and Jeremy Brooks was presented by CAPAB Drama at the Nico Malan Theatre, opening 2 August. Mavis Taylor directed, decor and costumes by Dicky Longhurst, lighting by John T. Baker. The cast: Keith Grenville, Roger Dwyer, Philip Boucher, Ronald France, Neville Thomas, Alan Prior, Tony Hanson, Johan Esterhuizen, Russel Savadier, Henry Goodman, Alec Bell, Diane Wilson, Liz Dick, Michelle du Toit, Mary Dreyer, Theresa Iglich, Marlene Winberg, Bryony Mortimer, Craig Dobson, Blaise Koch, Kiki Sevadjian, Simon Swindell, Neil McCarthy and Tom Holmes.
2002: Rhodes University Drama Department production of The Government Inspector adapted by Adrian Mitchell and directed by Andrew Buckland in March.
2005: Produced by Lara Bye, 2005?
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
Photograph of some cast members (Little Theatre 1952) held by NELM: Photographs [Collection: SIEFF, Percy]: 2013. 25. 2. 54.
Inskip, 1977. pp 43, 119.
The Government Inspector theatre programme (CAPAB 1980).
Theatre programme (Rhodes 2002) held by NELM: [Collection: Rhodes University. Drama Department]: 2008. 51. 14. 4. 1.
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