“You’re a hoor for the compliments!”
- Best line in the show; that one is definitely going into my repertoire. I made good on my threat to go and see The Government Inspector in the Abbey Theatre this evening.
It’s a terrific production; really tight, and really funny. The Abbey has commissioned Roddy Doyle to do a modern take on an old Russian play by Nikolai Gogal, which has been running as their Christmas blockbuster. Proving that systems exist to be exploited, it’s full of gags about dig-outs, brown envelopes and mental reservations, with a wonderful cheer of “Let them eat cheese!“. Don Wycherley is superb as the mayor. I can be a bit ambivalent towards him. He’s an excellent actor, but often I don’t like the characters that he plays. In this however, he has the burden of carrying the show, and he really makes a fine job of it. Also, the show, even though it is long, doesn’t drag; time flies in fact. There isn’t time to check your watch, you’re too busy laughing. It’s funny and tight the whole way through, and the set and costumes are great. All in all, a great show. Go see it!
As if that wouldn’t sway you, the Abbey are doing a Jan Blues special at the moment, where you get two for the price of one. Therefore we got great seats, front and centre, for half-price. Also in a new development for the Abbey, they are selling merchandise for the show. They have wonderful t-shirts available:
“Don’t blame the mirror if there’s a big ugly head on you.” – Old Russian Proverb
