The Government Inspector, Young Vic, dir Richard Jones, Julian Barratt, Doon Mackickan, Amanda Lawrence, Kyle Soller
Garishly-good. 60s retro sets, wallpaper, patterns and costumes; all brash and clash. Mistaken identity allows Khelestakov to fleece the town, jump ship and begone scot-free. The townsfolk are one-dimensional: obsequious, enjoy one-up-man-ship and play to trample on each other. This is the problem there are no redeeming features or characters in this whistle-stop dash. Does make for some hilarious moments, though, as surreality is topped by surreality: think rats, slamming doors, booze-fuelled conversations and empty declamations. The women excel as Doon Mackickan, Amanda Lawrence and Buffy Davis play within the genre, and rightly, get the most laughs…..
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