Arts & Culture
Theater department to perform 19th century Russian comedy
The Pointer
nmeye177@uwsp.edu
In 1836 Nikolai Gogol’s play, “The Inspector General,” was performed to the world for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia. The play was in jeopardy of falling into obscurity because of its controversial themes, but an unlikely audience member would save the play. Czar Nicholas I was in attendance the first night and it was his appreciation for the play that kept it safe from the censors in Russia at that time. Now, thanks to Czar Nicholas, Stevens Point will get a taste of what the fuss was all about.
The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point theater department will start its 2009-2010 theater season next week with a production of the Russian comedy “The Inspector General.” The comedy is being directed by Jeffrey Stephens, who wanted to bring part of his background to UWSP this year.
“My Ph.D. is in Soviet and Russian theater history,” said Stephens. “I was always interested in 19th century Russian theater, Gogol’s “Inspector General” is pretty much the only 19th century comedy that was written in Russian that sort of translates well.”
According to Stephens, the play, which has been extremely popular in Russia and the Ukraine since its debut, has recently been gaining popularity in America.
“It says something about the relevancy of the play. Without sounding too political with what has happened in the financial markets in the United States and the exposure of the greed that was out there and the taking advantage of every opportunity to make money at all costs, those things are in the play,” said Stephens.
The play follows Khlestakov, a copy clerk from St. Petersburg on his way to see his father when he is mistaken for a government inspector. The corrupt leaders of the town stand to lose everything if the inspector sends back a negative report. From there, the corruption and greed only mounts.
“It’s a play about how an entire town is so gullible as to assume that this fool Khlestakov is a government inspector and their willing to do anything to bribe them over to their side,” said Stephens.
The play is set in the 1830s and required a lot of research from the students to understand the characters they were to play, as well as the state of Russia at that time. According to Stephens they are also trying to stay true to Gogol’s intention.
They had just under a month to do it. Stephens and the cast have been working since Sept. 4 to get the show ready for its opening on Oct. 9. According to Stephens, the students have stepped up to the challenge.
“They’re really doing great work, we just feel like we’ve been here for weeks and weeks and weeks and its only the fifth week of the term right now,” said Stephens.
Though the play is 173 years old, Stephens said people will be surprised how funny an 1830s Russian comedy can be.
“It’s a difficult sell, 19th century Russian comedy. [People think] ‘ooooh great’,” said Stephens. “That’s why we put ‘Mother Russia’s favorite comedy’ on the poster.”
The show opens October 9 at 7:30 p.m. with the first run going through Oct. 11. The second run of the show begins Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 18. Tickets can be purchased at the UWSP box office.
