“It’s very important to speak out against political corruption. It’s our duty to do that as artists,” says Michael Chemers, a professor of Performance Play and Design and chair of the department. Chemers most recent project adapts The Inspector General, a Russian play by Nikolai Gogol which criticized 19th century Russian politics, for a contemporary audience.
The show will open on November 15 and runs through November 24 at the Theater Arts Mainstage on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. The play is open to all with tickets available on Eventbrite that are pay what you can.
The Inspector General, also known as The Government Inspector, features collaboration between undergrad and graduate students as well as special guest director Kinan Valdez, who’s most known for his work with L.A. Theater works. Valdez’s work has also been seen at the La Jolla Playhouse, the San Diego Repertory, and on PBS.
Chemers summarizes the plot of the original story saying “the play is this drifter, this no goodnick, who winds up getting mistaken for a high level government ethics inspector by this town of totally corrupt officials and hilarity ensues.” The Inspector General has been adapted countless times over its nearly two centuries long existence, including the 1949 movie adaptation starring Danny Kaye.
With a presidential election just 10 days before the premiere of the show, political tensions will be high. Though it was not Chemers plan to have such a timely premiere, audiences will nevertheless be affected by it. “I think the impact of the presidential election will be massive; it will create a lens through which the play is to be seen,” says Chemers.
Despite the accidental timeliness of the play’s premiere, The Inspector General was adapted to highlight the political corruption of the current American government. “Unfortunately, this play is as relevant today as it was 200 years ago,” says Chemers. “The problems that Gogol was facing in 19th century Czarist Russia are not that different from the problems that we’re facing in 21st century American politics.”
Chemers added in many references to contemporary corruption and scandals saying, “unfortunately, there were plenty of examples for me to choose from.” As well as updating the politics, Chemers also added in modern technology. The original play hinges on a letter, which doesn’t make sense in the present day given the lack of letter writing.
Beyond the relatability of politics, which will no doubt be on the top of everyone’s mind, Chemers thinks everyone should come see this play because of its hilarity.
More Information
November 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 – 7:30 PM
November 17 & 24 – 3:00 PM
Theater Arts Mainstage
UC Santa Cruz
453 Kerr Road
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Tickets available on Eventbrite
Lot 126 is closest parking to the event
Parking is by permit, Park Mobile, of pay $5 cash/credit to the on-site attendantMore parking information here