The Government Inspector
at Tesoro High School
Reviewed on November 14, 2014
| Name | School | Publication/Broadcasts |
Taylor Plett | SOCSA Dana Hills | Orange County Register |
Taylor Plett | SOCSA Dana Hills | Orange County Register |
Liam McGregor | St. Margaret's Episcopal School | Orange County Register |
Liam McGregor | St. Margaret's Episcopal School | Orange County Register |
Zara Ahmed | Northwood High School | OC Cappies Facebook |
Zara Ahmed | Northwood High School | OC Cappies Facebook |
Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register
Tesoro cast passes ‘Inspection' with flying colors
As far as the people of nineteenth-century Russia are concerned, money most certainly can buy happiness.
Alive with a side-splitting slew of eccentric individuals, Tesoro's production of "The Government Inspector" modernizes Gogol's classic farce into a nutty romp brimming with provocative innuendos.
When opportunistic civilian Ivan Hlestakov (Adam Robinson) is mistakenly identified as an undercover government inspector in a foreign town, he takes advantage of the townspeople's depravity – and general stupidity – in gleefully accepting their bribes to turn a blind eye.
Through each interaction with his doltish hosts, Robinson masterfully caricatures a potpourri of personas. His abilities are notable in portraying anything from a slobbering drunkard as he staggers about stage with a slurred giggle, to a lovesick Romeo as he cries out his adoration for the acrimonious Marya in an ill-rhyming poem.
Countering his master's asinine antics is Hlestakov's servant, Osip (Matt Davies-Morris). His poised stature and dry humor juxtapose the ironic incompetence of his superiors as he bamboozles grand sums of money out from under them, flashing bemused looks of disbelief at their gullibility.
With high shoulders and a gangly gait, Mayor Antonovich (Lance Reyes) squeaks out senseless commands and tosses his lengthy limbs in exasperation. Reyes' foolery is complimented by the grounded regality of his wife Anna (Sara Mackenzie), who wheedles her every desire out of him with cool conniving. Their daughter, Marya (Lexi Ginn), transforms her contemptuous glower into amorous doting, clutching her chest and swooning with each line of Hlestakov's sappy serenade.
But it's the sisters Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky (Auva Abedini and Madison Schwartz, respectively) who steal the show as they stumble about stage thrusting their "assets" and launch into cackling squabbles.
Praise is also due to Lexi Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach and Natalie Turner for their innovative and detailed set design. Gold trim and ornamental prosceniums add layers of Russian authenticity, while set pieces transcend aesthetic purposes as characters lounge upon or cower behind furniture and draperies. Make-up (Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzadeh) exemplifies each character's demeanor; gaudy rouge and hawkish eyes adorn the mayor's cruel wife, while the youthfully slow-witted School Principle wears a simple face, free of ostentation.
"The Government Inspector's" hilarious cast of distinct personalities delivers this age-old comedy with zeal and panache, proving that, when virtually everyone is shamelessly corrupt, a bit of dupery is all but acceptable.
Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register
Tesoro cast passes ‘Inspection' with flying colors
As far as the people of nineteenth-century Russia are concerned, money most certainly can buy happiness.
Alive with a side-splitting slew of eccentric individuals, Tesoro's production of "The Government Inspector" modernizes Gogol's classic farce into a nutty romp brimming with provocative innuendos.
When opportunistic civilian Ivan Hlestakov (Adam Robinson) is mistakenly identified as an undercover government inspector in a foreign town, he takes advantage of the townspeople's depravity – and general stupidity – in gleefully accepting their bribes to turn a blind eye.
Through each interaction with his doltish hosts, Robinson masterfully caricatures a potpourri of personas. His abilities are notable in portraying anything from a slobbering drunkard as he staggers about stage with a slurred giggle, to a lovesick Romeo as he cries out his adoration for the acrimonious Marya in an ill-rhyming poem.
Countering his master's asinine antics is Hlestakov's servant, Osip (Matt Davies-Morris). His poised stature and dry humor juxtapose the ironic incompetence of his superiors as he bamboozles grand sums of money out from under them, flashing bemused looks of disbelief at their gullibility.
With high shoulders and a gangly gait, Mayor Antonovich (Lance Reyes) squeaks out senseless commands and tosses his lengthy limbs in exasperation. Reyes' foolery is complimented by the grounded regality of his wife Anna (Sara Mackenzie), who wheedles her every desire out of him with cool conniving. Their daughter, Marya (Lexi Ginn), transforms her contemptuous glower into amorous doting, clutching her chest and swooning with each line of Hlestakov's sappy serenade.
But it's the sisters Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky (Auva Abedini and Madison Schwartz, respectively) who steal the show as they stumble about stage thrusting their "assets" and launch into cackling squabbles.
Praise is also due to Lexi Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach and Natalie Turner for their innovative and detailed set design. Gold trim and ornamental prosceniums add layers of Russian authenticity, while set pieces transcend aesthetic purposes as characters lounge upon or cower behind furniture and draperies. Make-up (Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzadeh) exemplifies each character's demeanor; gaudy rouge and hawkish eyes adorn the mayor's cruel wife, while the youthfully slow-witted School Principle wears a simple face, free of ostentation.
"The Government Inspector's" hilarious cast of distinct personalities delivers this age-old comedy with zeal and panache, proving that, when virtually everyone is shamelessly corrupt, a bit of dupery is all but acceptable.
Liam McGregor
St. Margaret's Episcopal School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register
'Inspector' visits Tesoro
Mayor Antonovich is in a state; he's just learned that a government inspector will soon be visiting his small Russian town. Trying to conceal rampant corruption, he decides to visit the inspector personally. But the man he visits, Ivan Hlestakov, is no inspector. Chaos ensues as Ivan exploits the Mayor's mistake in Tesoro's production of "The Government Inspector."
The Mayor (Lance Reyes) is anxious to prove to this government inspector that his ailing town is doing well. Reyes' dynamic movements — hunching his shoulders and stalking across the stage — enhance the character. His exaggerated squeaky voice conveys his pitiful desire to keep his position, and the depravity in the town.
Ivan Hlestakov (Adam Robinson) makes the most of the town's attention. Robinson masterfully portrays Ivan's different personalities. At the beginning, he is a drunken show-off, captivated by his own reflection. But when he is smitten by the Mayor's daughter, his honesty shines through. Seeing her contemptuous looks as looks of love, he is eager to win her heart.
Ivan's butler Osip (Matt Davies-Morris) contrasts Ivan's crazy antics with a hilarious dry humor. Davies-Morris uses calm body language and deliberate speech to play his down-to-earth character.
Meanwhile, Ivan pursues the Mayor's daughter Marya (Lexi Ginn) and wife Anna (Sara MacKenzie). As Marya, Lexi creates a hilarious oppositional attitude. She sticks out her chin, stomps and glowers, and prefers the color black — but she falls in love with Ivan after he improvises a hilarious poem for her. As Anna, MacKenzie is regal. She uses mischievous facial expressions to convey her adulterous desire for Ivan.
Costumes designed by Jennifer Kaplan, Lydia Lee, and Sydney Wilson are effective and extravagant. Marya and Anna appear in new exquisite dresses in each scene, growing more gaudy and detailed as the show progresses. The costumes work well with makeup, designed by Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzadeh. Makeup gives each character depth, from Anna's hawkish makeup to the Mayor's hilarious mustache.
The set, designed by Lexi Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach, and Natalie Turner, and built exclusively by students, is beautiful. Panels on either side of the stage frame the stage and set the scene, with stylized paintings of Russian buildings and little golden stars.
With energy and enthusiasm, Tesoro's cast brings this classic farce to life.
Liam McGregor
St. Margaret's Episcopal School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register
'Inspector' visits Tesoro
Mayor Antonovich is in a state; he's just learned that a government inspector will soon be visiting his small Russian town. Trying to conceal rampant corruption, he decides to visit the inspector personally. But the man he visits, Ivan Hlestakov, is no inspector. Chaos ensues as Ivan exploits the Mayor's mistake in Tesoro's production of "The Government Inspector."
The Mayor (Lance Reyes) is anxious to prove to this government inspector that his ailing town is doing well. Reyes' dynamic movements — hunching his shoulders and stalking across the stage — enhance the character. His exaggerated squeaky voice conveys his pitiful desire to keep his position, and the depravity in the town.
Ivan Hlestakov (Adam Robinson) makes the most of the town's attention. Robinson masterfully portrays Ivan's different personalities. At the beginning, he is a drunken show-off, captivated by his own reflection. But when he is smitten by the Mayor's daughter, his honesty shines through. Seeing her contemptuous looks as looks of love, he is eager to win her heart.
Ivan's butler Osip (Matt Davies-Morris) contrasts Ivan's crazy antics with a hilarious dry humor. Davies-Morris uses calm body language and deliberate speech to play his down-to-earth character.
Meanwhile, Ivan pursues the Mayor's daughter Marya (Lexi Ginn) and wife Anna (Sara MacKenzie). As Marya, Lexi creates a hilarious oppositional attitude. She sticks out her chin, stomps and glowers, and prefers the color black — but she falls in love with Ivan after he improvises a hilarious poem for her. As Anna, MacKenzie is regal. She uses mischievous facial expressions to convey her adulterous desire for Ivan.
Costumes designed by Jennifer Kaplan, Lydia Lee, and Sydney Wilson are effective and extravagant. Marya and Anna appear in new exquisite dresses in each scene, growing more gaudy and detailed as the show progresses. The costumes work well with makeup, designed by Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzadeh. Makeup gives each character depth, from Anna's hawkish makeup to the Mayor's hilarious mustache.
The set, designed by Lexi Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach, and Natalie Turner, and built exclusively by students, is beautiful. Panels on either side of the stage frame the stage and set the scene, with stylized paintings of Russian buildings and little golden stars.
With energy and enthusiasm, Tesoro's cast brings this classic farce to life.
Zara Ahmed
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook
Tesoro' Surprise Inspection
In a time of bribery and corruption of legendary magnitudes, the last thing the mayor of such a town wants is for a government official to arrive and look into everything; but the last thing anyone expects is for the 'government inspector' to be almost as bad as they are. Secrets are spilled, people are fooled, and a plot twist stuns in this fast-paced comedy.
Tesoro High School's production of "The Government Inspector", a satirical farce, captivates from the moment the set is revealed until the very last word. Lance Reyes stars as the more-than-corrupt Mayor Antonovich, a character whose constant energy and changes in mood keep the other actors on their feet. Alongside Reyes is the man he tries to impress; played by Adam Robinson, the 'government inspector', Ivan Hlestakov, is a character whose eccentric bursts of realistic, believable emotion never cease to elicit laughs. He is paired with his trusty (but not very devoted) servant, Osip, whom Matt Davies-Morris portrays to serve as a monotone to his master's overexcited-ness, delivering each scathing remark with perfect sarcasm. Robinson's and Davies-Morris's characters show an intense chemistry onstage through amusing well-timed banter and trust exercises that often end in problems.
The physicality of each character, especially the glowering Marya Antonovna (played by Lexi Ginn) and her lustful mother, Anna Andreyevna (played by Sara MacKenzie), is constant and extremely well performed, going along perfectly with the changes in speech and development of each character.
A multitude of ensembles grace the show with varying types of humor: sisters whose bodies emulate their personalities; peasants who seem even darker than their mayor; and mute guards who seem to have a subplot between themselves.
The costumes (designed by Jennifer Kaplan, Lydia Lee, and Sydney Wilson) for each of these groups, along with the rest of the cast, serve to give some hint as to what sort of character each actor will portray in accordance with the set's (designed by Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach, and Natalie Turner) phenomenal, usable and well-pieced design. The makeup (designed by Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzaeh) follows the same scheme and every detail seems to add together into a bigger picture of heavy symbolism underlying the hilarity of it all.
With a cast with seemingly unceasing energy and humor that could make the most lax of watchers blush, "The Government Inspector" delivers everything expected, and more.
Zara Ahmed
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook
Tesoro' Surprise Inspection
In a time of bribery and corruption of legendary magnitudes, the last thing the mayor of such a town wants is for a government official to arrive and look into everything; but the last thing anyone expects is for the 'government inspector' to be almost as bad as they are. Secrets are spilled, people are fooled, and a plot twist stuns in this fast-paced comedy.
Tesoro High School's production of "The Government Inspector", a satirical farce, captivates from the moment the set is revealed until the very last word. Lance Reyes stars as the more-than-corrupt Mayor Antonovich, a character whose constant energy and changes in mood keep the other actors on their feet. Alongside Reyes is the man he tries to impress; played by Adam Robinson, the 'government inspector', Ivan Hlestakov, is a character whose eccentric bursts of realistic, believable emotion never cease to elicit laughs. He is paired with his trusty (but not very devoted) servant, Osip, whom Matt Davies-Morris portrays to serve as a monotone to his master's overexcited-ness, delivering each scathing remark with perfect sarcasm. Robinson's and Davies-Morris's characters show an intense chemistry onstage through amusing well-timed banter and trust exercises that often end in problems.
The physicality of each character, especially the glowering Marya Antonovna (played by Lexi Ginn) and her lustful mother, Anna Andreyevna (played by Sara MacKenzie), is constant and extremely well performed, going along perfectly with the changes in speech and development of each character.
A multitude of ensembles grace the show with varying types of humor: sisters whose bodies emulate their personalities; peasants who seem even darker than their mayor; and mute guards who seem to have a subplot between themselves.
The costumes (designed by Jennifer Kaplan, Lydia Lee, and Sydney Wilson) for each of these groups, along with the rest of the cast, serve to give some hint as to what sort of character each actor will portray in accordance with the set's (designed by Ginn, Lauren Jacobsen, James Roach, and Natalie Turner) phenomenal, usable and well-pieced design. The makeup (designed by Abrianna Orbaker and Natalie Satarzaeh) follows the same scheme and every detail seems to add together into a bigger picture of heavy symbolism underlying the hilarity of it all.
With a cast with seemingly unceasing energy and humor that could make the most lax of watchers blush, "The Government Inspector" delivers everything expected, and more.