Show Info
TitleThe Government Inspector
PlaywrightNikolai Gogol adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
DirectorPaul Kalina
Assistant DirectorArman Hodasefat
Stage ManagerBonnie Ruble
CategoryMainstage
First RehearsalSeptember 1
Load In/Tech/DressOctober 2 - 8
PerformancesOctober 9 -11 & 15 - 17
Roles to be castDescription
Anton AntonovichThe town’s mayor. The mayor regularly takes bribes and steals from shopkeepers, whom he accuses of being swindlers.
Marya AntonovnaThe daughter of the mayor and Anna Andreyevna. Marya is quiet and meek, constantly being chastised by her mother for being vain, clumsy, and immature. 
GrushaThe maid of the mayor.
JudgeA pompous judge who loves hunting. He takes bribes in the form of puppies and keeps geese in the courthouse.
School PrincipalA timid, nervous, and ineffectual bureaucrat who lives in constant terror of authority and fails completely at managing his own classrooms.
Hospital DirectorManages the local charity hospital and public welfare institutions, embodying systemic corruption, extreme hypocrisy, and total neglect of human welfare. 
PostmasterHe is so simple-minded that he’s naïve. Out of curiosity, he opens and reads everyone’s mail.
DobchinskyA local landowner in the town. He’s nearly identical to Bobchinsky in name, appearance, and mannerisms, although Dobchinsky is taller and more serious.
BobchinskyA local landowner in the town. He’s short and portly in stature, speaks rapidly, and gestures wildly. Bobchinsky is comically similar to his fellow landowner Dobchinsky, although Bobchinsky is more energetic.
Doctor/Government InspectorThe district medical officer/Actual Government Inspector
Peasant Ensemble 
Innkeepers Wife/Corporals Widow
Svetsunov
Pentelaeyev/Constable
Waitress/Locksmiths wife
Abdullin/Constable/Imperial Messenger
Chernaeyev/Constable
SynopsisSet in a corrupt Russian provincial town, local officials panic upon learning an undercover inspector is arriving. They mistake a broke, low-level clerk named Khlestakov for the inspector, shower him with bribes, and face utter ruin when the truth emerges.
Notices

This show will feature lots of physical comedy and two onstage blank gunshots.

Fight Choreography Breakdown

PLEASE NOTE: This production involves a lot of physical comedy. Physical comedy moments may be added to enhance the show. Know that any changes/additions will need to be approved by the choreographer and Director of Theatre before being staged.

PageStage Directions/ Planned ActionCharacter(s)Notes
20Hlestakov places the pistol to his head. Then he sees himself in the mirror. He winks. He smiles a “Boy am I handsome” smile at himself. He points the gun at the mirror. He affects a few poses. He keeps this up as Osip his seedy valet enters. He watches for a moment then Hlestakov accidently pulls the trigger. The pistol fires up. Plaster falls down onto Hlestakovs head. 

Ivan Hlestakov

And Osip

Blank firearm used

Blank bullet shot

21Osip reloads the pistol as Hlestakov continues. Osip puts the pistol in Hlestakovs hand and places the barrel to his temple. 

Ivan Hlestakov

And Osip

 

Blank firearm used

 

22Hlestakov wrestles for the gun. He firmly yanks it away from Osip. Hlestakov accidently pulls the trigger again and fires at the door. Wood splinters. 

Ivan Hlestakov

And Osip

 

Blank firearm used

Blank bullet shot

25Hlestakov reloads his pistol. Hlestakov shoves the gun down his pants.

Ivan Hlestakov

 

Blank firearm used
33Dobchinsky starts to open the center doors, but they swing open and he gets whacked in the face. Dobchinsky 
41Hlestakov falls to the floor. Hlestakov suddenly pops back up onto his feet. Hlestakov throws his glass down to the floor with a crash. Hlestakov passes out, collapsing to the floor. 

Ivan Hlestakov

 

 
44Mayor whacks Svetsunov on the head. Mayor and Svetsunov 
46They rush to the door next to the central entrance and open it trying to get through the door at once. They get inside and manage to close the door. 

Hospital Director, Doctor, Dobchinsky,

Bobchinsky, Principal, Judge, Postmaster

 
54Svetsunov runs in, sword in hand. Svetsunov 
63Hlestakov pulls his pistol out of his trousers and puts it to his head. Hlestakov

Blank firearm used

 

 

Intimacy Choreography Breakdown

PageStage Directions/ Planned ActionCharacter(s)Notes
33Hlestakov kisses Anna, Marya and Grushas hands. Ivan Hlestakov, Anna, Marya, Grusha 
60

Marya throws herself onto Hlestakov smacking him with a long, hard kiss. Then they break. 

They kiss again. It turns into a grasp, then a grapple, then she pins him on the floor. 

 

Marya and Ivan Hlestakov 
61

Anna grabs Hlestakov by the lapels and kisses him. He flails under her assault. Finally, she lets him go. He gasps. 

Anna hikes her skirts, pulls off her garter. 

Anna and Ivan Hlestakov 
64Hlestakov pockets the gun, then dips Marya and kisses her. Ivan Hlestakov and MaryaBlank firearm used
Important Dates/Holidays

 9/5-9/7 Labor Day Weekend, 9/7 Labor Day (Observed), 9/11-9/13 Rosh Hashanah*, 9/14 Ganesh Chaturthi, 9/20 Yom Kippur*, 9/22 Equinox (Mabon), 9/25-10/2 Sukkot*, 9/25 Anant Chaturdashi, 10/2-10/3 Sh’mini Atzeret *, 10/4 Simchat Torah*, 10/11-10/20 Navaratri, 10/12 Indigenous Peoples' Day, 10/12 Columbus Day (Fed. Observed)

 

 * Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown on the previous day.

Callback List - Updated 8/29/26

The Government Inspector Callback Information 

Thank you to all who auditioned! Please read the following information carefully: 

Callbacks will be held Saturday, August 29th from 9am-1pm in RM 172 TB 

& Sunday, August 30th from 9am-1pm in RM 172 TB 

Please read both days schedules as you may be called for both days in multiple roles 

Please wear clothes you can move in as well as closed toed shoes 

You may be asked to do physical comedy as well as reading sides 

 

Please make sure you have filled out the following information before coming to callbacks: 

- Costume Comfort and Consent Questionnaire 

https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_afPMFw3sSDp48TA 

(This only needs to be filled out ONCE per callbacks if you are attending multiple) 

 

You can access sides for The Government Inspector here:  

The Government Inspector Sides 

We are ADDING a Svetsunov and Mayor side to the Sunday callback slot  

Sunday’s side 2 will NOW END following the line “And now another request” 

 

The following information has been updated as of 8/29/26 

Updated Sunday 8/30 callback schedule 

9am-1pm RM 172  

9am-10am 

 

Sunday Side 3 (9am-10am) 

Sunday Side 4 (9am-10am) 

Mayor, Bobchinsky, Dobchinsky, Postmaster 

Svetsunov, Mayor 

10am-11am 

 

Side 2 (10-11am) 

Abdullin, Hlestakov, Chernyaeyev, Pentelaeyev 

Locksmiths wife, corporals widow 

11am-12pm 

 

Sun Side 1 (11am-12pm) 

Waitress, Hlestakov, Innkeepers wife 

12pm-1pm 

 

Sat Side 1 (12pm-1pm) 

Principal, Judge, Mayor, Hospital Director, Doctor 

 

Please check all roles below, as multiple people are called back for multiple roles/time slots 

If you are not listed above to read for a side tomorrow, you are not called for the second session

 

Mayor 

Brennen Malone 

Aidan Seville 

Ken Van Egdon 

Marya 

Shelby Landuyt 

Kita Bond 

Mar y Luna Haskins 

 

Judge 

Aidan Seville 

Brennen Malone 

Ken Van Egdon 

 

School Principal 

Carter Houchins Witt 

Kaiya Kralik 

Jimmy Rempel 

Alex Smith Perry 

Zach Neifing 

 

Hospital Director 

Zach Neifing 

Kayla Leacock 

Carter Houchins Witt 

Alex Smith Perry 

Mar Y luna Haskins 

 

Postmaster 

Tobias Burkley 

Maddux Lamb 

 

Dobchinsky 

Jack McCarthy 

Lucas De La Rosa 

 

Doctor 

Evan Schmidt 

 

Innkeepers Wife/  

Corp widow 

Norah Weber 

Mar Y Luna Haskins 

Kelsey Harks 

Ella Sirna 

Frances Dapier 

Addison McBride 

Kaiya Kralik 

Shelby Landuyt 

 

Waitress /  

Locksmith's wife 

Kayla Leacock 

Frances Dapier 

Norah Logan 

Ella Sirna 

Mar Y Luna 

Shelby Landuyt 

 

Svetsunov 

Kayla Leacock 

Michael Glover 

Alex Smith Perry 

Gavin Gilbert 

 

Abdullin / Constable 

Zach Neifing 

Nicky LoSasso 

Ridge Rutherford 

Gavin Gilbert 

Jimmy Rempel 

 

Pentelaeyev / Constable 

Nicky LoSasso 

Carden Green 

Lucas De La Rosa 

Ryder Ambrose 

 

Chernaeyev / Constable 

Micael Glover 

Nicky LoSasso 

Alex Smith Perry 

Evan Schmidt 

Lucas De La Rosa 

Bobchinsky 

Thomas McCarthy 

Lucas De La Rosa 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast List-Updated 8/30/26

 

The Government Inspector  

Cast List 

Thank you all for auditioning! We appreciate all your time & hard work during callbacks. 

Below is the cast list for The Government Inspector.  

Please accept your role by Monday, August 31st at Noon by emailing the Stage Manager Bonnie Ruble (bonnie-ruble@uiowa.edu) Thanks all! 

Once all roles are accepted, more information will be sent out via email regarding the shows' first rehearsal on Tuesday, September 1st at 7pm.  

 

Hlestakov 

Raphael Thome 

Osip 

Dale Leonheart 

Anna 

Leah Urzandowki 

Mayor 

Brennen Malone 

Marya 

Shelby Landuyt 

Grusha 

Frances Dapier 

Judge 

Aidan Seville 

School Principal 

Carter Houchins-Witt 

Hospital Director 

Kaiya Kralik 

Postmaster 

Tobias Burkley 

Doctor 

Evan Schmidt 

Innkeepers Wife/ Corporals Widow 

Mar Y Luna Haskins 

Waitress / Locksmith's wife 

Kayla Leacock 

Svetsunov 

Alex Smith-Perry 

Abdullin / Constable/ Imperial Messenger 

Ridge Rutherford 

Pentelaeyev / Constable 

Jimmy Rempel 

Chernaeyev / Constable 

Lucas De La Rosa 

Dobchinsky 

Jack McCarthy 

Bobchinsky 

Thomas McCarthy 

 

Contact

Questions?

Bonnie Ruble, Stage Manager

bonnie-ruble@uiowa.edu