"When the locals in a small town in Russia learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, an unfortunate case of mistaken identity sends the village spiraling into a world of panic and greed. The Government Inspector is often said to be Nikolai Gogol’s masterpiece, a comedy of errors that provides clever commentary on the extensive political wrongdoing of Imperial Russia. When it opened, it caused an uproar in the Russian press. Eventually, Tsar Nicholas I had to intervene in order for the production to move forward. Since its premiere in the 1830s, The Government Inspector has been translated and adapted for many different productions, most notably the Chichester Festival in 2005.

The inspiration for The Government Inspector came from a conversation between Gogol and Alexander Pushkin, another famous Russian writer. Apparently Pushkin had actually been mistaken for a government inspector at one point in his life. He mentioned this to Gogol, who then turned it into a play. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, The Government Inspector exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity."

SUMMARY

The governor Anton Antonovich collected all the officials of the city and reported that he had received a letter from his friend, from which he learned that in their city was going to become a government inspector, and incognito. The governor gave everyone a mandate to put in order all the government offices - the court, the hospital, etc. It turns out that in court, they have been brooding geese.

The mayor is afraid that someone would report on him, so he called the postmaster Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin and asked him to open gently the letters and to read, and then again to seal and report to him. It turns out that the postmaster has been doing so for long, and even those letters that he liked he left.

Into the room burst country squires – Piotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky and Piotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky saying excitedly that in a local restaurant stayed a young man, an official named Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov. He behaves strangely, lived for two weeks, and did not pay the money. Well, they have concluded that this must have been a government inspector.

From his servant Osip it became known that Khlestakov is traveling from St. Petersburg to Saratov. On the way, he lost all his money for gambling and alcohol, and is left without a penny, and got stuck in this inn: has nothing to pay, cannot go on his way. The host does not provide lunch in debt demanding money.

When Khlestakov learns the governor came to him, he decides that the owner of the restaurant had already complained, and now he would be led to prison. When the door opens, Khlestakov pales and shrinks. At first he stutters little, but by the end of the speech says loudly that would pay everything. And say that the owner gives him not fresh beef, thus complaining on the services of the restaurant.

The governor takes it personally, apologizes, saying that the beef is always fresh in the market. He offers to move to a more comfortable apartment. Khlestakov takes it for a hint of prison, and threatens that he would complain to the Minister.

When the governor learns that Khlestakov needs money, the offers a loan, but instead of two gives four hundred rubles. Khlestakov calmed down. The governor again starts talking about the other apartment offering Khlestakov to move in with him. The last agrees.

Before he took a room in the house of the governor, Khlestakov examines the government offices at the request of the governor, although a little surprised what it is for.

They come in the governor’s house. The governor introduces the inspector to his wife and a daughter( of marriageable age). They begin to ask the guest about how he lives. Khlestakov, realizing that he is taken for some of a high official, starts to lie brazenly, saying that in the capital absolutely everyone knows him, that he often has dinner with a minister, and even once he asked to run the department. After his story everyone became numb, they do not even know how to address him.

At a time when Khlestakov is sleeping everyone in the house go on tiptoe. Officials decided to slip Khlestakov a bribe and sent with this purpose Amos Fedorovich, the judge. During the visit, Amos Fedorovich drops the money. Khlestakov notices it and asks if he to lend it to him. Next comes the postmaster, Khlestakov also borrows from him. Only Artemy Filippovich Zemlianika says about the real state of things. However, Khlestakov borrows from him as well.

Left alone, Khlestakov decides to write about all this to his friend, a journalist, so he could publish an article in the newspaper. Khlestakov says in a letter about everything that happened to him.

Khlestakov hears some noises; merchants come to him with a complaint against the governor. Khlestakov is listening to them carefully and promises to help.

The scene in the living room. Khlestakov and Marya , the governor’s daughter, are sitting nearby. Khlestakov pulls the chair closer, then she pushes hers away, and so several times. Then he kisses her on the shoulder. She angrily gets up and makes an offended look. He falls to his knees and says it's all because of love to her. At this time Anna, her mother, enters finding such a scene. She asks to explain what's going on here and says her daughter to leave. Khlestakov himself notes that the mother is not ugly as well, he rushes to his knees and also declares his love to her. At this time Marya Antonovna enters seeing the scene, her eyes are welling with tears. Khlestakov rushes to her, asking her to marry him.

It becomes known that the wedding is planned. Khlestakov says that he needs to go for one day to his uncle and leaves.

The governor summons merchants, announces them that Khlestakov will soon be his son in law, and for the fact that they complained about him, they will not have it good. Merchants are asking for forgiveness.

Postmaster appears with a message that Khlestakov is not a government inspector. He read a letter which he sent to the journalist. The Governor is in horror.

At that moment enters a gendarme and demands the governor to the officer, who had just arrived from St. Petersburg.