Presented by UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS
The Government Inspector
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
From the original by Nikolai Gogol
Directed by Paul Kalina
October 9–11, 15–17, 2026
UI Theatre Building / E.C. Mabie Theatre
Approximate run time is 1 hour 45 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission.
Please be advised this play contains crude humor, firearm use/gunshots, sexual innuendos, and intimacy.
When a small Russian town receives word that an undercover government inspector is headed their way to root out corruption, the town’s leaders panic and desperately try to maintain their status quo...by any means necessary. Greed, mistaken identity, ambition, and a healthy dose of stupidity steer Jeffrey Hatcher’s witty adaptation of Gogol’s timeless satirical farce.
Special thanks to Fannie, Bones, Levi, and Hatti Kalina; David Lee Painter; Caroline Clay; and Mark Bruckner.
Meet the Cast
Hlestakov | RAPHAEL THOMÉ** Raphael Thomé is a third-year MFA acting candidate. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he worked in TV shows and movies such as Pelé – Birth of a Legend and The Text, a Cola-Cola short. In 2018, he came to the United States to pursue an undergraduate degree at Cal State Northridge. There, he got to play Tartuffe, Laertes in Hamlet, and direct Ionesco’s The Killing Game. At Iowa, he was seen as Fersen in Marie Antoniette, Hovstad in An Enemy of the People, Lord Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Nathaniel in Stained Glass, Astrov in Uncle Vanya, and now he’s thrilled to play Hlestakov alongside such passionate actors. |
Osip | DALE LEONHEART**
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Anna | LEAH URZENDOWSKI** Leah has been on the UIowa stage in Marie Antoinette, An Enemy of the People, and Romeo and Juliet. Previous, Leah was an ensemble member of The Neo-futurists from 2011-2021. She regularly wrote, directed, and performed in Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind and The Infinite Wrench. Performer/choreographer/devisor credits include: Burning Bluebeard, Miss Neo Pageant, The?Unicorn?Hour? (Neo-futurists). Choreography credits include: Lord of The Flies (Steppenwolf), The Magic Play (Goodman), Ivywild (Hypocrites), and Jeff award winner for All Quiet on the Western Front (Red Tape). Performer credits include: 500 Clown Trapped, 500 Clown Frankenstein (500 Clown), Hunchback (Redmoon). Thank you for witnessing live theatre. Please do it again. |
Mayor | BRENNEN SAVON MALONE** Brennen Savon Malone (they/he) is a third-year MFA actor and artist at the University of Iowa, where they’ve done shows like Head Over Heels (Basilius), Argonautika (Eighth Man), Side Show (Jake), and Marie Antoinette (Joseph/Mr. Sauce). While in Philly, they originated the role of Juicy in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham by James Ijames at the Wilma Theater. They also played Brad in Rocky Horror Picture Show at Theatre Horizon, Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web at the Arden Theatre, and Parmesan in Gay Mis with Jaffe St. Queer Productions. They are incredibly grateful for this amazing crew of artists and are forever grateful to their beautiful partner, Steven, and the silliest doggo, Stanley. Feel free to give Brennen a follow on Instagram @brennensavonmalone. They need the love. Enjoy the show. |
Marya | SHELBY LANDUYT* Shelby Landuyt is a fourth-year double major in theatre arts and cinematic arts with an emphasis in acting. Her recent University of Iowa credits include Romeo and Juliet, The Indoctrination of Bananas, and The T-Rex-Formation. She is incredibly grateful for all of the friends, family, and professors who have shaped her into the person she is today. She loves you all very much, and she hopes you enjoy the show! Thank you for believing in the power of live theatre. The world needs it. |
Grusha | FRANCES DAPIER* Frances Dapier is a third-year theatre arts major on the musical theatre track, with minors in dance and media management. She is so excited to be part of her third mainstage production at the University of Iowa! Most recently, she appeared in last semester's musical, Head Over Heels (Arcadian), the workshop production of Drill, Drill, Drill (Mia), and Side Show (Lobster Girl/Vale Sister). She is endlessly grateful to her friends and family for their love and support, and to this wonderful cast and crew for making this experience so special. |
Judge | AIDAN SEVILLE* Aidan Seville is a fourth-year musical theatre major at the University of Iowa. Aidan’s most recent show here was Argonautika (Meleager), Aidan is very excited to be apart of this production because it's funny! He's loved his time with the entire company whose made him laugh every single day. He’d like to thank his mother for giving him all of his talent. And he swears that she doesn't make him write that. |
School Principal | CARTER HOUCHINS-WITT* Carter is so excited to do a show with the University of Iowa! He’s done many shows around Iowa City including most recently Newsies (Tommy Boy) with City Circle, A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (The D’ysquiths) with Theatre West, and Metamorphosis (Phaeton/Eros) with Crooked Path. He wants to thank everyone who supports his acting in any way shape or form. |
Hospital Director | KAIYA KRALIK* Kaiya is a third-year undergraduate double majoring in screenwriting and musical theatre, minoring in cinema, and pursuing the social justice and performing arts certificate. Her most recent credits include Three Cubes and a Ghostlight, The Boy with the Sun in his Eyes, Head Over Heels, and Rituals of Theophany. She’s honored and excited to be a part of this show and work with this spectacular and hilarious cast. She’s thankful for her supportive family (including her brother who’s along for the ride), her amazing friends, her incredible boyfriend, and cats Scrump and Soup. She hopes you enjoy the show and laugh a lot! |
Postmaster | TOBIAS BURKLEY* Tobias Burkey is a junior transfer student. This is his first show at the University of Iowa. He is very excited to be a part of the production and hopes to have fun in the theater. He hopes to not repeat THE INCIDENT. He would like to thank his family for supporting him in this venture. |
Doctor / Government Inspector | EVAN SCHMIDT* Evan Schmidt is a second-year musical theatre student at the University of Iowa. He is thrilled to be part of his first mainstage and perform on the Mabie stage! Some of his previous notable roles include: Newsies (Darcy/Ike) with City Circle, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Archangel Raguel) with the University of Iowa School of Music, 1984 (Winston Smith), Hello, Dolly! (Cornelius Hackl), Jesus Christ Superstar (Apostle). He’s very grateful to his friends and family for their support! |
Innkeepers Wife / Corporals Widow | MAR Y LUNA HASKINS* Mar Y Luna Haskins is a second-year theatre major on the musical theatre track. This will be her fourth production at the University of Iowa, previously being in Drill, Drill, Drill (Anya Svenson), Head Over Heels (Ensemble), and Drag’dalore (Drag Thing). She is incredibly thankful to be a part of such an amazing show. She would like to thank her parents, boyfriend, and hilarious cast mates for helping her through this show’s process. She hopes you enjoy! |
Waitress / Locksmith's Wife | KAYLA LEACOCK** Kayla Leacock is thrilled to be in The Government Inspector! Select credits include: National Tour: PAW Patrol Live! (Rocky), Rosie Revere Engineer & Friends (Ada Twist) Regional: The Color Purple (Nettie), Hurricane Diane (Renee), Bad World: A New Musical (Linnea), Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (Lily Polkadot), Hairspray (Dynamite) University of Iowa: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), How to Defend Yourself (Kara), Earthus Terminus (Madame President), Adaku (Mma), Far Away (Harper). Special thanks to her family and friends! |
Svetsunov | ALEX SMITH-PERRY* Alex Smith-Perry is a third-year undergraduate student from Atlanta, Georgia, studying theatre |
Abdullin / Constable / Imperial Messenger | RIDGE RUTHERFORD* Ridge Rutherford is a first-year double majoring in theatre arts and cinema. He is excited to perform his first production at the University of Iowa. He has performed live theater in several fields from high school to community productions. He would like to thank his mother for starting his interest in acting and supporting him. |
Pentelaeyev / Constable | JIMMY REMPEL* Jimmy Rempel is a second-year student studying musical theatre at the University of Iowa. The Government Inspector is his fourth production with Iowa, with past credits including Drag‘da Lore and Head Over Heels. Additional credits include The Drowsy Chaperone as George (Washington Community Theatre), and Into the Woods as The Baker (Mid-Prairie High School). He is honored to be a part of one of Iowa’s rare comedic pieces, and would like to thank Paul Kalina for the opportunity. He would also like to thank his family, friends, and his amazing girlfriend for championing him every day. (He would also like to ask the audience to let him know if they can tell that his toe is broken.) |
Chernaeyev / Constable | LUCAS DE LA ROSA*
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Dobchinsky | JACK MCCARTHY* Jack McCarthy is a freshman and cannot wait to portray Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky in his first show at the University of Iowa, The Government Inspector! Jack works at ComedySportz Quad Cities as an improvisational actor and enjoys all aspects of the arts. He would like to thank his late father and his two heroes, his mom and brother, for their constant stream of support and encouragement as he continues to chase his dreams. |
Bobchinsky | THOMAS MCCARTHY* Thomas McCarthy, a third-year undergrad at the University of Iowa, is pursuing a BA in theatre arts on the musical theatre track and a BA in economics. He is extremely excited to be a part of another incredible production at the university. You may have seen Thomas in past university productions such as The (T-)Re(x)Formation (Jedd), Side Show (Roustabout/Ensemble), 3 Cubes and a Ghostlight (Actor 6), Drag’daLore (Zachary Scott Brandon/Lincoln Bio), Argonautika (Sixth Man), and Head Over Heels (Dametas). Thomas would like to thank everyone involved in the process of bringing this hilariously powerful piece of art to life. He would also like to thank his two heroes, his brother, Jack, and his mom, Regan, for supporting him in everything he does. Enjoy the show! |
*Undergraduate student.
**Graduate student.
UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Meet the Creative Team
*Undergraduate student.
**Graduate student.
†Member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829.
UI Theatre is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Meet the Crew
| Position | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Wardrobe Crew Captain | Sarah Morgan* |
| Deck & Automation Crew Captain | Lexi Wartschlager* |
| Light Board Operator | Aiden Kelsey* |
| Q-Lab Operator | Sonia Cryptomeria* |
| Run Crew – Wardrobe | Carden Green* Charlotte Larsen* Victoria Wojdan* |
| Run Crew – Deck | Roxy Glave* |
| Run Crew – Deck & Fly | Silas Young* |
| Run Crew – Deck, Fly, Automation | Kate Jensen* |
| Production Lab TA | Bonnie Ruble** |
| Wardrobe Associate | Sasha Hildebrand |
*Undergraduate student.
**Graduate student.
The Department of Theatre Arts is dedicated to providing hands-on theatre experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Satire Under the Tsar: Nicolai Gogol’s The Government InspectorWritten by Ani Jilavyan, Dramaturg
On October 7, 1835, Gogol wrote to Alexander Pushkin, the father of modern Russian literature:
“…Please do me a favor and give me some kind of a plot. Any plot: funny or not but specifically a genuine Russian anecdote. I am itching to write a comedy. If that won’t happen, my time will go to waste, and I don’t know what I’ll do given my circumstances. Besides the wretched university salary of 600 rubles, I don’t have any other position at the moment. Please, give me a plot and I will immediately turn it into a five-act comedy, and I swear it will be funnier than hell. For God’s sake. Both my mind and my stomach are starving.” (Gogol, my trans.)
Alexander Pushkin gave Gogol an idea for a play; however it probably happened in a less direct and conscious way. Pushkin told Gogol how he once was mistaken for an undercover government inspector in Novgorod province by local authorities and how he was treated with special respect (Veresaev). He also recounted similar incidents of mistaken identity happening elsewhere in Russia (Veresaev). Gogol was intrigued and inspired by the story and as promised, immediately (within a couple of months!) turned it into a five-act satire. However, writing a play was one thing and passing the censorship of Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855) was another.
Tsar Nicholas I ascended to the throne with the slogan “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality,” and these interconnected concepts became the guide for the official ideology (Edwards 83). The principle pursued Imperial unity under Orthodox Christianity and the absolute authority of the Emperor, while suppressing ideas considered destructive to that unity. By 1833, Nicholas had created an intimidating and overwhelming apparatus of censorship which could dictate his politico-religious ideology to all authors in Russia preventing “linguistic impurities and political foolishness” (Edwards 85). The censors would read the piece first and in some special cases, they would pass it to the Tsar for the final decision. Gogol’s piece was such a special case: censors handed The Government Inspector to the Tsar.
Poet Vasiliy Zhukovsky, who acted as Gogol’s mentor and friend, was well acquainted with Nicholas I’s literary tastes because he had access to the Imperial family (Yakovleva). He also knew well that a disapproved text could cause a writer to be viewed as a revolutionary and therefore a political enemy, destroying their career and life. Gogol’s play was making fun of the flaws of the Tsar's system, and so it had a high chance of being rejected, risking a severe ban for Gogol. Therefore, Zhukovsky personally coordinated a staged reading of the play for the Tsar, and convinced him that “there was nothing subversive in the comedy,” and that “it was merely a lighthearted satire on incompetent provincial officials” (Yakovleva). The Tsar approved the piece and even attended the premiere of the show.
Some records state that Nicholas I left the theater after laughing the whole night and said: “What a play! Everybody got his due, I most of all!” (Nabokov, 36). This account has been questioned by different literary scholars, including novelist and critic Nabokov (who loved criticizing everything else other than his own work!). Regardless of the anecdote’s historical accuracy, the play was indeed staged and Nicholas I attended it. If he truly failed to see that the satire criticized not only provincial officials but also his entire autocratic system, then it makes Gogol’s point even more ironic. It is important to note that Gogol’s original five-act script never mentions the Tsar, unlike Hatcher’s adaptation, therefore, it is entirely possible that Nicholas simply missed the connection between the depicted bureaucrats and himself.
Just as Gogol took the risky path of unfiltered satire during a dangerous political climate, Hatcher too, in his adaptation of The Government Inspector (premiered in 2008), leaned into biting satire when modernizing the script, embracing bold humor that risked backfiring on him with today's audiences. Hatcher took a lot of liberties: he added snappy dialogues full of shocking, unapologetic jokes, where some punchlines might feel offensive to keep the audience on their toes and show the true stupidity, immorality and narrow-mindedness of the characters. Each time we encounter a new character, we think that they are the most ridiculous person possible, until a new one enters. Even the characters we think of as smart are only intelligent relative to the ones that are around them.
Written in 1835 (published in 1836), The Government Inspector has inspired more than 15 film adaptations and operas in different languages, alongside roughly 10 English-language play adaptations over many years. It has proven to be a timeless and global piece, allowing audiences everywhere recognize the flaws of the systemic corruption and leaders who don’t see past their own bellies.
References
Edwards David W. "Russian Ecclesiastical Censorship during the Reign of Tsar Nicholas I." Journal of Church and State, Vol. 19, No. 1, 1977, pp. 83-93. Jstor.
Gogol, Nikolai Vasilyevich. "Гоголь Н. В. - Пушкину А. С., 7 октября 1835 г." [Gogol N. V. - to Pushkin A.S., 7 October 1935].Gogol-lit, 7 October 1835.
Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich. Nikolai Gogol/by Vladimir Nabokov. New Directions, 1961.
Veresaev, Vikenty. "Гоголь в жизни. V. "Ревизор." [Gogol in Life. V. The Government Inspector.]. Gogol-lit.
Yakovleva, Yelena. “Очень нервный вечер. Как Николай I и Гоголь постановку «Ревизора» смотрели.” [Very nervous evening. How Nicholas I and Gogol watched the production of The Government Inspector.]. aif, 30 April 2016.
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Originally commissioned and produced by the Guthrie Theater, Joe Dowling, Artistic Director.
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (HATCHER) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatists Play Service. www.concordtheatricals.com
Selections of recorded music are used under Creative Commons licenses. Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3, No. 2 (C-sharp minor), Sergei Rachmaninoff. Recording licensed under CC BY 4.0. Marche Slave, Op. 31, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Recording licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.