The Government Inspector.

31 Jan-2 Feb 2006. The English-language theatre company Addis Stage presents Nikolai Gogols political satire The Government Inspector" directed by Paul Ackroyd. Set in a small provincial town in Russia, the play exposes the corruption of the government bureaucracy under the tsar after a lowly civil servant, Khlestakov, manages to pass himself off as a high-ranking government official and exploit the situation to his advantage before his true identity is revealed. The Government Inspector premiered in St Petersburg in 1836, apparently at the request of Tsar Nicholas I himself. The international cast in Addis Ababa includes Martyn Rosser as Khlestakov, Gary Campbell as the mayor, Rosanna Moore as Anna, the mayor's wife, Laure Beaufils as Dobchinsky, Kari-Ann Whitbread as Bobchinsky, Jamille Bigio as Marya, the mayors daughter, Claudia Fumo as the postmistress and Rob Caudwell as Osip. Founded in March 2005, Addis Stage aims to present two or three major productions a year, as well as organising other activities such as dinner-theatre events and informal play readings. Membership is open to all for a nominal fee and members can participate as much or little as they choose in any aspect of a production, from acting to helping backstage or front of house, or simply by coming to watch. There are currently around 70 members. 19.30. Tickets 100 birr; 50 birr for students and volunteer aid workers.