Oct 29, 2012
Joel Wirkkunen as Mayor Anton Antonovich. Photo by David Cooper.
Vancouver, BC – Studio 58, Langara’s nationally renowned professional theatre training program, has proudly announced that it’s next performance will be one of the most famous comedies ever written – The Government Inspector.
The play was originally written by Russian dramatist Nikolai Gogol in 1836 as a stinging comedy of errors that lampooned the political corruption of Imperial Russia. The play cemented Gogol’s literary dominance and he went on to influence the course of Russian literature, as well as writers including Dostoyevsky and Chekhov.
The Studio 58 troupe are presenting an adaptation of the work by Jeffrey Hatcher that was hailed as “a comedy of galumphing, harrumphing hilarity” during it’s original 2008 run at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
The plot centers on a provincial village thrown into a Marx Brothers-like world of panic, greed, and silliness when its bumbling elected officials learn that a government inspector is paying a visit. Hitting the Studio 58 stage one week after the US election and in the midst of our own provincial political turmoil, this production couldn’t be more timely.
David Mackay directs this wildly witty, smart, and satirical take on a madcap theatre classic, and Studio 58 alumnus Joel Wirkkunen joins the student cast as Mayor Anton Antonovich. Audiences will experience the world of Imperial Russia with a twist. Pam Johnson’s (The Crucible, The Comedy of Errors) striking and surprising set, the sumptuous 19th century clothing of Mara Gottler (The 13th Chair, The Secret in the Wings), and the stunning lighting by Adrian Muir (1984, The Secret in the Wings) will converge to create an unforgettable experience in the theatre.
The performance will open on November 17 and run until December 2, with previous and FREE student nights on November 15 and 16. Reservations are recommended. Call the Studio 58 box office at 604.323.5227, or visit www.langara.bc.ca/studio58. Tickets can also be purchased through Tickets Tonight by calling 604.684.2787 or visiting www.ticketstonight.ca.
Watch the trailer:
Learn more.
Sherri Sadler
Manager of Communications, Studio 58
604.323.5652 | ssadler@langara.bc.ca