2008 | 2009
Sala Gran
4th February to 12th April 2009Description:
Theatre
The most amusing comedy of this season comes to us from Russia in a free version by Jordi Galceran directed by Sergi Belbel. Considered the best play written by Nikolai Gogol and an
undisputed masterpiece of satirical drama, L’inspector ironically portrays the stupidity, greed and banality of the officials and senior officials in the Russian
provinces.
When the news arrives that an inspector is coming to make a visit incognito, Anton, the chief of police, hurries to clean up the city. The local police try to hide all the evidence of
blackmailing, and everyone together prepares an idyllic scene to receive the government delegate. Meanwhile, Ivan Khlestakov, a fly-by-night, player and swindler, arrives with his
servant, Ossip, from Saint Petersburg, and the local people take him for someone else, thinking that he is the feared inspector. Naturally, it all leads to a series of unlikely and
hilarious situations.
Performed for the first time in 1836 with the blessing of Tsar Nicolas I, the premiere of L’inspector caused such a stir that Gogol had to flee Saint Petersburg. More than 170
years later and coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the writer’s birth, the work has not lost its relevance, and the scathing criticism Gogol makes of the hypocrisy and corruption
of power is unfortunately still pertinent today.
