The Government Inspector

Communicado's latest production of The Government inspector has clearly been chosen for its relevance to today's political problems. The story of greed and corruption at the top is a hilariously black comedy, about an age old problem. Set in Russia, the show follows a local governor, played perfectly by John Bett, who instructs his contemporaries to "keep up appearances" for the arrival of an inspector in the coming days. A fretted misunderstanding leads the locals to believe that an errant traveller and nobody is in fact "somebody", and the belief that they are in fact the inspector. He is bribed and treated like royalty, as the production descends further and further into calamity. A love interest and a host of comic characters lend the production a quick pace and charming reverence.

A strong point comes in the form of music. Interludes are provided by the cast of Musos who play instruments ranging from the banjo to the snare drum in an eastern european style, toned to suit the moment. Vocal contributions add richness and depth to the music as the clever set changes behind the actors.

Excellent performances are provided by the entire cast and company, but none moreso than from our lead - scottish favorite and 7:84 founder member John Bett. His tone and delivery is incredible, and never feels overdone or forced, An incredibly natural performance which is also funny is a rarity, and is a strength of this production.

The only weakness is the length the production is overlong. The second act is much more interesting and concise than the first, as the first act occasionally dips into the danger zone of being boring due to the lack of "action" and the sheer amount of dialogue.

Despite this tiny drawback, the production is an absolute triumph and well worth a visit to the Tron. Could this be a resurgence of the political theatre and satire that made Scottish theatre great? This production doesn't provide overly obvious and naff jokes and references to current politics, but the link is far from tenuous. This cutting piece of satire does not disappoint.

The Government Inspector is on at The Tron, Glasgow until the 27th of February