'The Government Inspector' hits Gallaway

On Tuesday, the department of theatre and dance will bring to life the story of the citizens of a small Russian town who panic when an incognito government inspector comes to uncover the secrets and scandals the town government wants to keep hidden.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $13 for the general public; $11 for faculty, seniors and staff; and $9 for students and can be purchased in person at the box office in Rowand-Johnson Hall or by calling 348-3400. Tickets can also by purchased online at www.crimsonartstickets.com, for a $1 surcharge.

One of the lead actors in the production said when he read Nikolai Gogol's play, "The Government Inspector," during the summer, he knew he wanted to take part.

"This was definitely a show I was very interested in," said Darin Cabot, a second-year master's of fine arts student studying acting pedagogy, who plays the role of the civil servant/mistaken inspector Khlestakov.

Both Cabot and Jeremy Cox, who plays the town's mayor, said luck played a role in being cast for the play, because they did a general audition for all the fall productions at the beginning of the semester.

"Through the grace of the people we were auditioning for is how we wound up a part of this," said Cox, a second-year master's of fine arts student studying acting pedagogy. "We were lucky enough to be cast. I don't know, I guess luck and preparation [had something to do with it]."

For the past month, the actors have been rehearsing six days a week, for three to four hours per night. The actors said it is tough but worth it, and while they put in a lot of time rehearsing, they believe they got a lot out of it.

Cabot said working with Seth Panitch, the director, has been a rewarding experience.

"I really love working with Seth, the director, because he really pushes you to go further each time you get up there and is always encouraging you not to be satisfied with what you've got even if it's already good," Cabot said.

Cox said the most enjoyable part for him has been meeting and working with people he has not had the opportunity to work with before.

"Anytime you get to get on the stage, whether it be the Allen Bales or the Gallaway, it's always a good time," Cox said. "You're always having new opportunities; you're working with new people. I'm working with undergraduates that are getting ready to graduate that I haven't gotten the chance to work with, so it's been really nice."

Cox said students would have an easy time enjoying the play, whether they are avid theatergoers or going for the first time.

"Aside from the fact that it's a very funny show, I think it's very accessible to everybody," Cox said. "It's not like coming to see a Shakespeare play. That might take you a while to get into, hearing the language and understanding everything that's going on. It's this idea that it won't take you long to know what's going on, whereas with Shakespeare you're like 'OK, now what is thou thine bosom?'"

Cabot said in addition to the accessibility of the show, there is also plenty of audience interaction, which makes the theatre experience even more enjoyable.

"With this play in particular there is so much interaction with the audience," Cabot said. "They aren't having to get up or having to do anything but there's a lot of asides where the characters are speaking directly to the audience. So there's that level of interaction that I think can be very exciting for a first time theatergoer."

Cox said the original music by Raphael Crystal, an assistant professor and director of musical theatre, adds a lot to the play.

"I was just sitting backstage the other night listening to some of the music he's brought in that's from the period the play was written in, and it really felt almost kind of Christmassy," he said. "I thought, well, this is kind of appropriate since we are getting close to the end of the semester, and maybe this will kind of get people into the spirit."

However, Cox said, the storyline doesn't really go along with the holiday spirit.

"It's not necessarily a Christmas show as far as content," Cox said. "It's not even really about family or togetherness. It's more cutthroat, everybody working as hard as they can to get exactly what they want. But it's not vicious cutthroat, just lightly slashing - a paper cut, maybe."

On Thursday and Friday, student actors from the production will be handing out "ruble" bribe slips to students who can bring them to Friday and Saturday performances to draw ticket discounts from the "Great Bribe Bowl." Everyone who draws will at least get a $1 discount on admission with some getting $3 or $5 discounts or free tickets.