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Acting Students Tackle Russian Satire with Upcoming Stage Adaptation of ‘The Government Inspector’

A group of talented acting students from Toronto Film School will attempt to “shed light on the things we prefer to keep in the dark” when their adaptation of The Government Inspector takes to the stage at the Papermill Theatre this month.

 

Adapted and directed by Andy Massingham, the 75-minute play was originally written back in 1836 by Russian novelist and playwright Nicolai Gogol as a merciless lampooning of the corrupt officials of the Russian state.

 

Satire takes no prisoners. It takes the world we know, with its heaves and pulsations of joy, sorrow, pain and delight, shuffles the deck and deals us a new hand…” said Massingham.

The Government Inspector poster
Poster art by Caityn Giff

 

“When I first saw The Government Inspector decades ago, I was keenly aware that the audience was laughing at what was between the lines rather than the jokes. I was hooked/ It is too often regarded as a political satire. More accurately, it is Gogol’s indictment of humankind’s frail grasp on reality on every level.”

“Sounds like a tragedy? Yes. A very funny one,” he added, heaping praise on the “extraordinary collection of artists” who make up the ensemble starring in his adaptation of the play.

The Government Inspector, which is stage managed by Lean Jafari, will take to the stage at the Papermill Theatre for a three-performance run on Dec. 20, 22 and 23 as follows:

  • Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 23 at 3 p.m.

The Papermill Theatre is located at Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Rd. Tickets are free and available at the door.

The Creative Team Behind The Government Inspector:

Andy Massingham – Director

Andy Massingham – Director

Lean Jafari - Stage Manager

Lean Jafari – Stage Manager

Rolly Barry as The Mayor

Rolly Barry as the Mayor

Kamar (KJ) Edwards as the Jailer

Kamar (KJ) Edwards as the Jailer

Felix Houle as Cliche

Felix Houle as Cliche

Keya Josiane Mukembe Tambwe as Luka

Keya Josiane Mukembe Tambwe as Luka

Ember Janz as Osip

Ember Janz as Osip

Ethan Jack Turner as Clyde

Ethan Jack Turner as Clyde

Karen Khouri as Anna

Karen Khouri as Anna

Andy Kohut as Dob

Andy Kohut as Dob

Kai Matveyev as Dr. Nosh

Kai Matveyev as Dr. Nosh

Victor Nicholls as Klestakov

Victor Nicholls as Klestakov

Paola Ortuno as Bob

Paola Ortuno as Bob

Ann-Sophie Poulin as the Judge

Ann-Sophie Poulin as the Judge

Justin Romeo as Turbo

Justin Romeo as Turbo

Amanda Thamage as Marya

Amanda Thamage as Marya

Yuxiao Wan as Mishka

Yuxiao Wan as Mishka

Akeisha Williams as Poppinoff

Akeisha Williams as Poppinoff

Matthew Wozniak Cardoso as Gregor

Matthew Wozniak Cardoso as Gregor

Selina Yukselir as Octavia

Selina Yukselir as Octavia

Oliver Young as Ivan

Oliver Young as Ivana

Cynthia Reason

Cynthia Reason (she/her) is a former newspaper journalist turned communications professional who currently works as Toronto Film School’s Manager of Communications. Prior to joining TFS, she spent 13 years working as a reporter for Torstar/Metroland Media Toronto, writing for publications including Toronto.com, the Etobicoke Guardian, and the Toronto Star, among others. Her byline has also appeared in the National Post. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph and Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Humber College.

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