The Inspector-General

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol

Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.8 stars; 27 reviews)

The Governor and Officials of a small provincial town in Russia are worried. They have received word that a Government Inspector is on his way. As they do what they can to cover up their own corruption and incompetence, a man arrives at the Inn and refuses to pay for his meals. Surely such an audacious act can only be the work of the dreaded Inspector!

Meanwhile Khlestakov, a common copying clerk from St. Petersburg who has lost all his money at cards, is attempting to bluff and bully the landlord of the Inn he is staying at into giving him one more free meal. He is scared and confused when the Governor comes to confront him, but his tendency to tell fantastic lies and brag about his imaginary illustrious friends turns the situation to his advantage.

This blistering satire by Gogol looks at the way greed and corruption make fools of ordinary men, and ordinary fools into even greater fools. Both funny and adroit, this is a sadly accurate portrayal of small-town (and large-city) politics the world over.

Lamentably this play contains some instances of anti-Semitism. (Summary by Lucy Perry)

Cast list:
Stage Directions: Lucy Perry
Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, the Governor: ToddHW
Anna Andreyevna, his wife: Maria Kasper
Marya Antonovna, his daughter: Tara Flynn
Luka Lukich Khlopov, the Inspector of Schools: Nick Bulka
His Wife: ImkeStevens
Ammos Fiodorovich Liapkin-Tiapkin, the Judge: EccentricOwl
Artemy Filippovich Zemlianika, the Superintendent of Charities: P. J. Morgan
Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, the Postmaster: Ray Kasper
Piotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, Country Squire: Simon Smoke
Piotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky, Country Squire: Peter Tucker
Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg: Seamus Dobbin
Osip, his servant: Algy Pug
Fiodr Andreyevich Liuliukov, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: Betsy Cooley
Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: Wojtek Murawski
Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin, ex-official, esteemed personage of the town: BeniaminoMassimo
His Wife: Availle
Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, the Police Captain: David Olson
Svistunov, a Police Sergeant: Rosslyn Carlyle
Derzhimorda, a Police Sergeant: Vanessa Cooley
Abdulin, a merchant: bala
Feveronya Petrovna Poshliopkina, the Locksmith's wife: Maryanka
Mishka, the Governor's Servant: Etel Buss
The Widow of a non-commissioned Officer: Anna Simon
Servant at the Inn: Elizabeth Klett
A Second Merchant: Mary Kay
A Postilion: Availle
A Gendarme: Elizabeth Klett
Edited by: Lucy Perry (3 hr 30 min)