The Government Inspector NYC Reviews and Tickets

“No one is likable so the audience revels in the mockery. The comedy is broad with lots of visual humor…Urie is a master of facial expressions and the early scene in which he half-heartedly attempts to kill himself rather than be arrested is quite funny…Although the play is over a hundred-years old, there seems to be a current message…The satire is funny, arched and pointed…‘The Government Inspector’ is a hysterical reminder that some things never change.”
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“A no-holds-barred satire of greed and corruption as told with the decorum of a Marx Brothers movie and a slight dash of ‘Blazing Saddles’…Subtle political satire this is not…Quite refreshingly, there is not a single redeeming character to be had in the entire play...Kudos to director Jesse Berger for helping to bring out a brilliant sense of comic timing from the company…A rollicking farce showing how the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
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“The top-notch cast lead by the indomitable and beyond adorable Michael Urie and Michael McGrath is nothing short of comic genius. Directed by Jesse Berger, this very old gem of a comedy still rings true even in this day and age…The comedy is fresh, the delivery is crisp, and the laughter flows throughout this romp. Grab a ticket and get ready for multiple belly laughs with this one.”
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"More than funny—this madcap comedy of mistaken identity is the perfect antidote to whatever ails you...A breakneck pace that never flags, this night at the theater is laugh line atop laugh line, all of it based in characters that are well-crafted and stomach-achingly funny individuals...Urie’s every move, every facial expression, every line, is so perfect that you spend the zippy two hours wondering what he’s going to do next...His brilliance is matched by pretty much every member of the cast."
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"Michael Urie works himself to the bone...And his work pays off, in a hilarious physical farce...As directed by Jesse Berger, the characters verge on the grotesque...Paced as a slapstick farce, the production is high on silliness. Among the outstanding actors in this production, Arnie Burton portrays the postmaster who reads everyone's mail...With Alexis Distler's double-decker set divided into three distinct spaces, one views the characters' antics through various lenses."
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“Those of us lucky enough to have viewed the great physical comedy performance this season by Kevin Kline in ‘Present Laughter’ now have the privilege of viewing a second such remarkable performance by Urie…The curtain falls. We have been greatly entertained. But mightn’t we also be a bit uncomfortable?...Is it possibly a mirror of ourselves? And of our governing officials?...'The Government Inspector' is a hilarious comedy, beautifully cast and acted."
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“Laughter, joy, these are positive things...Even when the characters don’t have much substance, the game cast portrays them with energy and charm, which is reason enough to sit back and enjoy. Right?...The show seduces one into complacent good humor. Yet thinking about it in retrospect I can’t help but be bothered by the frivolity of it all. Gogol’s play is an innovative masterpiece. Mr. Hatcher’s a forgettable trifle…Why bother writing it? Oh, that’s right. It’s all about the laughs.”
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"Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation, which keeps the integrity of time and place, coupled with costumes that nod to the period contributes outright to the comedy...Jesse Berger’s staging is light and quick. A comedy of this nature relies on impeccable timing, and the superb cast, lead by Urie, McGrath and Testa, keeps the madcap energy going at a high-wattage pace, making 'The Government Inspector' an absolute delight."
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