Take heed, members of Wayne America, because the one and only “Inspector General” will be making his way to the WSC theater department this week.
Wayne State College will be presenting the “Inspector General” by Nikolai Gogol in the Black Box of Peterson Fine Arts this Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Ticket prices for the show are $5 per person. If you are a student, faculty or staff at Wayne State, you will be able to view the show for free.

The “Inspector General” is a Russian farce, using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

The show centers around the corrupt leaders of a town who cause destruction and despair on their fellow townsfolk. After a night of libations, the town’s judge, head of the hospital and head of the school board are all called back to the mayor’s home to discuss private business.

When the three arrive, the mayor gravely explains to them that the government is sending an inspector general to their corrupt town to closely view the town’s well-being.

The leaders of the town then make the blunder of mistaking a wandering con artist for the inspector general and begin to dote on the suave scammer.

Being that the show is Russian, there are many references that could possibly not be understood. In order to make things more relatable for audience members, the theater program has Americanized the show.

Many students from the college, both cast and crew, have been working for weeks on end to create this amazing show and cannot wait to reap their reward and share it with the audience.

Hope Pederson, a WSC junior, gave a little insight into the show for potential show goers.

“It’s a great show because of all the hard work of all the actors and crew,” Pederson said. “There is so much going on, with not only the main action but from side action with the servants, that you are just going to laugh and it will cause you to have a good day and good night.”

At the helm of the production is WSC’s theater director, Dr. Gwen Jensen, who excels with her productions because she always seems to bring something new and interesting to each of the college’s productions.

“Since this is a farce and a nonsensical world, we thought the best design technique to use to demonstrate that would be German expressionism,” Jensen said. “A lot of slanted lines, things are not right like a slanted window and the doors are different sizes.”

Jensen also talked about how she is pushing the actors by deciding to do a farce.

A farce calls for high-energy comedy that pushes the actors physically. This proves a greater challenge since the design for this show’s set is particularly small.
To potential audience members, Jensen offered this last statement.

“Come see the show. It should make you laugh so hard, you may need to wear your Depends,” she said.