Inspector or Revizor, in reality a fake inspector, the wily Khlestakov has haunted theatre stages since 1836, when Gogol launched his scathing comedy in Saint Petersburg, that did not amuse a Tzarist Russia. It is a marvellous comedy with a provincial town's notables believing that as Khlestakov is indeed an inspector sent by the central administration, he must be flattered, corrupted, bought off and that they must sell themselves to him ! However, Khlestakov is not the inspector. He is an imposter. Everyone falls for his tricks, becomes ruined and is ridiculed.
Transposed beneath the canvas of a tent, this work alters colours and dimensions. The Footsbarn Travelling Theatre's wandering players, fire their shots at bureaucracy the world over through the international and multicultural, multilingual troupe. This work is a real team effort, each member has their own acting technique, their own mastery of the mask, their own gymnastic style, sense of song and music. Most of all each member enjoys their own turbulent freedom. The Footsbarn has often made evenings magical at Avignon, cleverly reinventing great classics like Shakespeare's or Homer's The Odyssey. Today it is the turn of Gogol's The Inspector and The Travelling Footsbarn Theatre goes the whole clownish hog with this one.
Distribution
stage direction Footsbarn Travelling Theatre
cast : Valère Bertrand, Julie Biereye, Joey Cunningham, Rod Goodall, Paddy Hayter, Shaji Karyat, Clémence Massart, Guillaume Meziat
music composed by : Maurice Horsthius and Chandran Veyattummal
played by : Andrzej Brych and Chandran Veyattummal
decor : Danny Hayter
masks and stage design : Fredericka Hayter
costumes : Charmian Goodall
Production
production : Footsbarn Travelling Theatre
avec le soutien du : ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (direction régionale de l'action culturelle Auvergne), du conseil régional d'Auvergne, du conseil général de l'Allier, et du FNADT (ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche) dans le cadre d'un projet d'investissement sur les bâtiments de La Chaussée
avec le concours de : l'Adami