This is a revival by Patrick Myles who also directs, of a play first performed 188 years ago, written by Nikolai Gogol who was born in the Ukraine. In An Author’s Confession (1847) Gogol described the purpose of his play: “I decided to gather in one pile all the bad in Russia of which I was then aware… and at the same time, to laugh at everything.” Its messages are the vanity of those in power and the lengths they will go to maintain the status quo. Some might say it has relevance to today’s political empires; certainly it is timely.

It is basically a farce in a suburban town controlled by the Church Reverend Jargogle (David Hartley) the Police Constable Bodkin (Nigel Hastings) the Judiciary Judge Woofit (Anna Savva) and assisted by the Postmaster Cumberworld (Christopher Hunter). On top and in charge of everything is Governor Swashprattle (Dan Skinner) : you can see where this is going!  All of these officials have their own not so little sidelines and kickbacks.

Paranoia is ever present and suddenly they are told that there is to be a Government Inspector coming to look at the books.  Panic and humour ensue. There is a stranger staying at the Inn behaving rudely, not paying his bills and acting exactly as a senior Government Inspector would.  He is Percy Fopdoodle (Keill Smith-Bynoe).