By Brandon Searle
Virginia Scott and the cast of ”The Government Inspector” rehearsing in the theater of Purchase’s Center for Media, Film and Theatre. (Photo by Brandon Searle)
On Sept. 21, Acting Company 50, the junior acting conservatory class, held a technical rehearsal for "The Government Inspector" at the Center for Media, Film and Theatre Performance Theater.
The production is directed by Virginia Scott, who teaches acting clown and commedia dell’arte in the BFA acting program. Scott has directed once before at Purchase for "Waiting for Godot" in the spring of 2022.
"The Government Inspector" is an adaptation of the classic satire from Nikolai Gogol by Jeffery Hatcher. Set in 19th century imperial Russia, it follows townsfolk that descend into madness when a man that they think to be an undercover government inspector comes to pay the town a visit.
“We don’t normally do comedies at Purchase—at least in the BFA program,” said Shannon Kenny, a junior design and technology major who stage manages the show. “And a show with heavy physical comedy isn’t really done a lot so it’s a great learning experience to be on a show like this.”
Physical comedy is central to the play. The production has given many students in the conservatory for theatre arts at Purchase an opportunity to improve their physical comedy skills.
“It’s exciting to work with a group of young people who are taking on this new thing I don’t think they’ve ever much done before,” said Scott.
“I have been able to take from the classes what I was retaining even if I didn’t realize I was retaining it,” said Jade Cook, a junior acting major, who plays the Hospital Director. “And [Scott] was able to help me, bring that out of me, so that I could actually do all of the aspects of clown and improv that I have learned but may not have realized I was learning.”
Heschel Bay, a junior acting major, plays the principal role, Khlestakov. “It’s been fucking exhausting but really fulfilling because I love physical comedy stuff so much—you know, falling all over the place, being able to express yourself in immature and horrible ways that you can’t in society. You feel empty of all the things you need to empty by the end of each rehearsal.”
The production has also brought Russian culture to Purchase’s campus.
Destiny Barbour, a junior acting major, said that they had learned about Russian delicacies, history, and tradition. “I find [this show] unique because we are learning about another culture,” Barbour said. They also play a couple of roles in the show: The Innkeeper’s Wife, The Locksmith’s Wife, and The Imperial Messenger.
There will be live music featured in the production. “Being able to show off my tuba skills is definitely something that I never would have thought would happen here but I’m so happy that I get to show that off,” Barbour said.
”The Government Inspector” flyer posted in the Humanities building. (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)
"The Government Inspector" is not only a comic joyride; it is underpinned by heavy universal themes as well. Set during the era of the Tsar, the chaos of the play is stoked by the fear of leadership. “The show has a lot to say about the conditions that allow for government corruption and corruption of the individual on a soul level,” Bay said.
Acting Company 50 is looking forward to sharing their work next week. The show runs for approximately two hours with one intermission.
“I’m hoping people enjoy themselves,” said Kenny. “It’s a really funny show. It’s a classic.”
"The Government Inspector" runs from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28 in the Performance Theater of the Center for Film, Media and Theatre. You can find more information on the Purchase College website.
“If you’re in a bad mood and you come see the show, it’s gonna lift you up, it’s gonna make you [feel] better,” said Cook. “And if you’re already in a good mood then you can just, like, party with us.”
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