Artists in Residence at the Oxford Playhouse, Flintlock Theatre have thrown a popping klezmer sound track into the mix with this lively retelling of Gogol’s original tale of farcical local government corruption.
Guildford School of Acting graduates Jeremy Barlow, Francesca Binefa, Robin Colyer and Samuel Davies have developed into an accomplished satirical comedy troupe. There are shades of the Marx Brothers about them with some zaniness that would have looked at home in Green Wing. Never a dull moment, Flintlock employs extreme facial expression, body movement, slapstick, dance and outrageous interaction with innocent bystanders. The show was huge fun and had a full house stomping and shouting by the end of the two-part performance.
What better a backdrop to this adapted mid-nineteenth century Russian tale of furtive favours and farce than the current HSBC Swiss branch shenanigans? Today it’s ‘bricks’ of used notes walking out of a culture of silence. Back in 1836 Nikolai Gogol was having enormous fun at the expense of the dodgy geezers in small town Russian bureaucracy – nods and winks divided by almost two centuries, but a common theme to both.
The story has classic theatricality embedded in it: mistaken identity, petty ambition, vanity and rudderless morality. Flintlock takes this piece by the horns and runs it at full tempo from beginning to end without coming off the rails.
Davies as the Mayor is Groucho-like on the night, giving a fine pop-eyed performance full of silly walks, asides to the audience, terrific timing and a very watchable rubber face. But as an ensemble the four surely ticked what co-artistic director Colyer set out to achieve, which was to develop creative direction through playfulness. This show had its finger pressed firmly on the giggle button all night, and the stagecraft was spot-on. Throughout there was always a big connect with the audience, which was always made to feel part of the proceedings. And if the play wasn’t enough in itself, the audience was pleasantly surprised to be entertained in the bar during the interval by the group performing songs that they accompanied on double bass and ukulele. The party mood was not going to be allowed to dissipate. A great way to warm up a February night in Bristol, don’t miss it.
Flintlock Theatre’s new show Don Q is beginning to tour the South East. I have no doubt that The Government Inspector will win them enough new friends to ensure it swings South West sometime soon. ★★★★★ Simon Bishop 12/02/15
