Photo Flash: 'The Government Inspector' at the Guthrie

One of the most famous comedies ever written, "The Government Inspector" offers nonstop hilarity, as news of a surprise visit from an undercover government inspector sends a small provincial Russian town spiraling into a world of panic and greed. Fearing such a visit will expose the extent of their corruption, local officials set off in a flurry of activity to cover up their various misdeeds, only to discover that a stranger from the capital has been staying at the local inn for the past week. An unfortunate case of mistaken identity ensues as the officials, thinking the feared inspector is disguised as this impoverished young civil servant, literally fall over themselves with fists full of rubles to bribe the unsuspecting stranger.

Joe Dowling directs this timely and spirited world premiere adaptation by famed playwright and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher. Broadway veteran Hunter Foster and Guthrie favorite Peter Michael Goetz lead the hilariously comic cast, bringing the searing and bitingly hilarious political satire based on Nikolai Gogol's masterpiece to the Wurtele Thrust Stage. 

Lee Mark Nelson (Dobchinsky), Kris L. Nelson (Bobchinsky), Sally Wingert (Anna Andreyevna) and Peter Michael Goetz (Anton Antonovich)

Hunter Foster (Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov) and Luverne Seifert (Osip)

Phyllis Wright (The Waitress) and Kate Eifrig (The Inn Keeper’s Wife)

Peter Michael Goetz (Anton Antonovich) and Lee Mark Nelson (Dobchinsky)

Hunter Foster (Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov) and cast members

Randy Reyes (The Doctor), Raye Birk (The School Principal), Wayne A. Evenson (The Judge), Stephen Yoakam (The Hospital Director), Peter Michael Goetz (Anton Antonovich), Stephen Pelinski (Svetsunov), Sally Wingert (Anna Andreyevna) and Lee Mark Nelson (Dobchinsky)

(Clockwise from top left) Wayne A. Evenson (The Judge), Stephen Yoakam (The Hospital Director), Raye Birk (The School Principal), Lee Mark Nelson (Dobchinsky), Jim Lichtscheidl (The Postmaster) and Kris L. Nelson (Bobchinsky)

Maggie Chestovich (Marya Antonovna) and Hunter Foster (Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov)

Hunter Foster (Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov) and Sally Wingert (Anna Andreyevna)

Photos by Michal Daniel.