香蕉秀

Corruption gets upended with comedy in 香蕉秀 University鈥檚 next mainstage theatrical production, opening tonight.

香蕉秀鈥檚 Theatre香蕉秀 will stage a classic case of mistaken identity and political panic as it presents 鈥淭he Government Inspector.鈥� The satire, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from Nikolai Gogol鈥檚 1836 masterpiece 鈥淩evizor,鈥� runs in the Black Box Theatre through Nov. 8.

鈥淭he Government Inspector鈥� is a sharp, timely comedy centered on a deeply corrupt mayor and his equally unscrupulous cronies in a remote Russian provincial town. Their comfortable routine of bribery and mismanagement is suddenly disrupted by the rumor that an incognito government inspector is en route, poised to expose their numerous misdeeds.

The desperate townspeople mistake a penniless, low-level clerk passing through for the high-ranking official. This pivotal error sets the stage for a chain of frantic attempts to bribe, flatter and appease the supposed inspector, resulting in a dizzying comedy of errors.

Hatcher鈥檚 2008 adaptation captures the wit and biting social commentary of Gogol鈥檚 original, which was reportedly inspired by an anecdote told to the playwright by Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The enduring power of its tale is reflected in its numerous adaptations across film and theater. The Village Voice praised the story, calling it 鈥渨itty, withering and endlessly entertaining.鈥�

Tickets are available online at  or by calling the box office at 405-208-5227.

Performances will be held in the Black Box Theatre in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center:

• Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 1, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 2, 2 p.m.
• Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 8, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.