Still from the film “The Inspector General” (1952)

In a district town, from which “you’ll have to jump for three years and never get to any state,” the mayor, Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, gathers officials to deliver unpleasant news: a letter from an acquaintance informed him that an “auditor from St. Petersburg” was coming to their city , incognito. And with a secret order." The mayor - all night long he dreamed of two rats of unnatural size - had a presentiment of bad things. The reasons for the arrival of the auditor are sought, and the judge, Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin (who has read “five or six books, and therefore is somewhat free-thinking”), assumes that Russia is starting a war. Meanwhile, the mayor advises Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, the trustee of charitable institutions, to put clean caps on the sick, make arrangements for the strength of the tobacco they smoke and, in general, if possible, reduce their number; and meets with the complete sympathy of Strawberry, who respects that “a simple man: if he dies, he will die anyway; If he gets well, he’ll get well.” The mayor points out to the judge the “domestic geese with little goslings” that scurry underfoot in the hall for the petitioners; on the assessor, from whom, since childhood, he “smacks of a little vodka”; on the hunting rifle that hangs just above the cupboard with papers. With a discussion about bribes (and in particular, greyhound puppies), the mayor turns to Luka Lukich Khlopov, the superintendent of schools, and laments the strange habits “inseparable from an academic title”: one teacher constantly makes faces, another explains with such fervor that he does not remember himself (“Of course, Alexander the Great is a hero, but why break the chairs? This will result in a loss to the treasury.”)

Postmaster Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin appears, “a simple-minded man to the point of naivety.” The mayor, fearing a denunciation, asks him to look through the letters, but the postmaster, having been reading them for a long time out of pure curiosity (“you will read another letter with pleasure”), has not yet seen anything about the St. Petersburg official. Out of breath, the landowners Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky enter and, constantly interrupting each other, talk about a visit to the hotel tavern and an observant young man (“and looked into our plates”), with such an expression on his face - in a word, precisely the auditor: “and doesn’t pay money and doesn’t go, who else should it be if not him?”

The officials disperse worriedly, the mayor decides to “parade to the hotel” and gives urgent instructions to the quarterly regarding the street leading to the tavern and the construction of a church at a charitable institution (don’t forget that it began “to be built, but burned down,” otherwise someone will blurt out what and was not built at all). The mayor leaves with Dobchinsky in great excitement, Bobchinsky runs after the droshky like a cockerel. Anna Andreevna, the mayor's wife, and Marya Antonovna, his daughter, appear. The first scolds her daughter for her slowness and asks her leaving husband through the window whether the newcomer has a mustache and what kind of mustache. Frustrated by the failure, she sends Avdotya for a droshky.

In a small hotel room, the servant Osip lies on the master's bed. He is hungry, complains about the owner who lost the money, about his thoughtless wastefulness and recalls the joys of life in St. Petersburg. Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, a rather stupid young man, appears. After a squabble, with increasing timidity, he sends Osip for dinner - and if they don’t give it, he sends for the owner. Explanations with the tavern servant are followed by a crappy dinner. Having emptied the plates, Khlestakov scolds, and at this time the mayor inquires about him. In the dark room under the stairs where Khlestakov lives, their meeting takes place. Sincere words about the purpose of the trip, about the formidable father who called Ivan Alexandrovich from St. Petersburg, are taken as a skillful invention incognito, and the mayor understands his cries about his reluctance to go to prison in the sense that the visitor will not cover up his misdeeds. The mayor, lost with fear, offers the visitor money and asks him to move into his house, and also to inspect - for the sake of curiosity - some establishments in the city, “somehow pleasing to God and others.” The visitor unexpectedly agrees, and, having written two notes on the tavern bill, to Strawberry and his wife, the mayor sends Dobchinsky with them (Bobchinsky, who was diligently eavesdropping at the door, falls to the floor with her), and he himself goes with Khlestakov.

Anna Andreevna, waiting impatiently and anxiously for news, is still annoyed with her daughter. Dobchinsky comes running with a note and a story about the official, that “he is not a general, but will not yield to the general,” about his menacingness at first and his softening later. Anna Andreevna reads the note, where a list of pickles and caviar is interspersed with a request to prepare a room for the guest and take wine from the merchant Abdulin. Both ladies, quarreling, decide which dress to wear. The mayor and Khlestakov return, accompanied by Zemlyanika (who had just eaten labardan in the hospital), Khlopov and the inevitable Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky. The conversation concerns the successes of Artemy Filippovich: since he took office, all the patients are “getting better like flies.” The mayor makes a speech about his selfless zeal. The softened Khlestakov wonders if it is possible to play cards somewhere in the city, and the mayor, realizing there is a catch in the question, decisively speaks out against cards (not at all embarrassed by his recent winnings from Khlopov). Completely upset by the appearance of the ladies, Khlestakov tells how in St. Petersburg they took him for the commander-in-chief, that he was on friendly terms with Pushkin, how he once managed the department, which was preceded by persuasion and the sending of thirty-five thousand couriers to him alone; he depicts his unparalleled severity, predicts his imminent promotion to field marshal, which instills panic in the mayor and his entourage, in which fear everyone disperses when Khlestakov retires to sleep. Anna Andreevna and Marya Antonovna, having argued over who the visitor looked at more, together with the mayor, vying with each other, ask Osip about the owner. He answers so ambiguously and evasively that, assuming Khlestakov is an important person, they only confirm this. The mayor orders the police to stand on the porch so as not to let in merchants, petitioners and anyone who might complain.

The officials in the mayor's house are conferring on what to do, decide to give the visitor a bribe and persuade Lyapkin-Tyapkin, famous for his eloquence (“every word, Cicero rolled off his tongue”), to be the first. Khlestakov wakes up and scares them away. The completely frightened Lyapkin-Tyapkin, having entered with the intention of giving money, cannot even answer coherently how long he has served and what he has served; he drops the money and considers himself almost under arrest. Khlestakov, who raised the money, asks to borrow it, because “he spent money on the road.” Talking with the postmaster about the pleasures of life in the county town, offering the superintendent of schools a cigar and the question of who, in his taste, is preferable - brunettes or blondes, confusing Strawberry with the remark that yesterday he was shorter, he takes from everyone in turn " “loan” under the same pretext. Strawberry diversifies the situation by informing on everyone and offering to express their thoughts in writing. Khlestakov immediately asks Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky for a thousand rubles or at least a hundred (however, he is content with sixty-five). Dobchinsky is taking care of his first-born, born before marriage, wanting to make him a legitimate son, and he is hopeful. Bobchinsky asks, on occasion, to tell all the nobles in St. Petersburg: senators, admirals (“and if the sovereign has to do this, tell the sovereign too”) that “Peter Ivanovich Bobchinsky lives in such and such a city.”

Having sent the landowners away, Khlestakov sits down to write a letter to his friend Tryapichkin in St. Petersburg in order to outline an amusing incident of how he was mistaken for a “statesman.” While the owner is writing, Osip persuades him to leave quickly and succeeds in his arguments. Having sent Osip with a letter and for the horses, Khlestakov receives the merchants, who are loudly prevented by the quarterly Derzhimorda. They complain about the mayor’s “offenses” and give him the requested five hundred rubles on loan (Osip takes a loaf of sugar and much more: “and the rope will come in handy on the road”). The hopeful merchants are replaced by a mechanic and a non-commissioned officer's wife with complaints about the same mayor. Osip pushes out the rest of the petitioners. The meeting with Marya Antonovna, who, really, was not going anywhere, but was only wondering if mamma was here, ends with a declaration of love, a kiss from the lying Khlestakov and his repentance on his knees. Anna Andreevna, who suddenly appeared, exposes her daughter in anger, and Khlestakov, finding her still very “appetizing,” falls to his knees and asks for her hand in marriage. He is not embarrassed by Anna Andreevna’s confused admission that she is “in some way married,” he suggests “retiring under the shade of the streams,” because “for love there is no difference.” Marya Antonovna, who unexpectedly runs in, receives a beating from her mother and a marriage proposal from Khlestakov, who is still kneeling. The mayor enters, frightened by the complaints of the merchants who broke through to Khlestakov, and begs him not to believe the scammers. He does not understand his wife’s words about matchmaking until Khlestakov threatens to shoot himself. Not really understanding what is happening, the mayor blesses the young people. Osip reports that the horses are ready, and Khlestakov announces to the mayor’s completely lost family that he is going for just one day to visit his rich uncle, borrows money again, sits in a carriage, accompanied by the mayor and his household. Osip carefully accepts the Persian carpet onto the mat.

Having seen off Khlestakov, Anna Andreevna and the mayor indulge in dreams of St. Petersburg life. The summoned merchants appear, and the triumphant mayor, having filled them with great fear, joyfully dismisses everyone with God. One after another, “retired officials, honorable persons in the city” come, surrounded by their families, in order to congratulate the mayor’s family. In the midst of congratulations, when the mayor and Anna Andreevna, among the guests languishing with envy, consider themselves to be a general’s couple, the postmaster runs in with the message that “the official whom we took for an auditor was not an auditor.” Khlestakov’s printed letter to Tryapichkin is read aloud and one by one, since every new reader, having reached the description of his own person, becomes blind, stalls and moves away. The crushed mayor delivers an accusatory speech not so much to the helipad Khlestakov as to the “click-cutter, paper-scraper,” which will certainly be inserted into the comedy. The general anger turns to Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, who started a false rumor, when the sudden appearance of a gendarme, announcing that “an official who has arrived by personal order from St. Petersburg demands you to come to him this very hour,” plunges everyone into a kind of tetanus. The silent scene lasts more than a minute, during which time no one changes their position. "The curtain falls."

Retold

There is no point in blaming the mirror if your face is crooked.

Popular proverb

Characters

Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, mayor.

Anna Andreevna, his wife.

Marya Antonovna, his daughter.

Luka Lukich Khlopov, superintendent of schools.

His wife.

Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin, judge.

Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, trustee of charitable institutions.

Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, postmaster.

Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky, city ​​landowners.

Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg.

Osip, his servant.

Christian Ivanovich Gibner, district doctor.

Fedor Andreevich Lyulyukov, Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin, retired officials, honorable people in the city.

Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, private bailiff.

Svistunov, Pugovitsyn, Derzhimorda, police officers.

Abdulin, merchant.

Fevronya Petrovna Poshlepkina, locksmith.

Non-commissioned officer's wife.

bear, servant of the mayor.

Inn servant.

Guests and guests, merchants, townspeople, petitioners.

Characters and costumes

Notes for gentlemen actors

Mayor, already aged in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; quite serious; a few are even resonant; speaks neither loudly nor quietly, neither more nor less. His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and hard, like those of anyone who began hard service from the lower ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from baseness to arrogance is quite rapid, as in a person with crudely developed inclinations of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is cropped and streaked with gray.

Anna Andreevna, his wife, a provincial coquette, not yet quite old, brought up half on novels and albums, half on chores in her pantry and maiden room. She is very curious and shows vanity on occasion. Sometimes she takes power over her husband only because he is unable to answer her; but this power extends only to trifles and consists of reprimands and ridicule. She changes into different dresses four times throughout the play.

Khlestakov, a young man of about twenty-three, thin, thin; somewhat stupid and, as they say, without a king in his head - one of those people who are called empty in the offices. He speaks and acts without any consideration. He is unable to stop constant attention on any thought. His speech is abrupt, and words fly out of his mouth completely unexpectedly. The more the person playing this role shows sincerity and simplicity, the more he will win. Dressed in fashion.

Osip, a servant, such as servants who are several years old usually are. He speaks seriously, looks somewhat downward, is a reasoner, and likes to read moral teachings to himself for his master. His voice is always almost even, and in conversation with the master it takes on a stern, abrupt and even somewhat rude expression. He is smarter than his master and therefore guesses more quickly, but he does not like to talk much and is silently a rogue. His costume is a gray or blue shabby frock coat.

Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, both short, short, very curious; extremely similar to each other; both with small bellies; Both speak quickly and are extremely helpful with gestures and hands. Dobchinsky is a little taller and more serious than Bobchinsky, but Bobchinsky is more cheeky and lively than Dobchinsky.

Lyapkin-Tyapkin, a judge, a man who has read five or six books, and is therefore somewhat freethinking. The hunter is big on guesswork, and therefore he gives weight to every word. The person representing him must always maintain a significant mien on his face. He speaks in a deep bass voice with an elongated drawl, a wheeze and a gulp - like an ancient clock that first hisses and then strikes.

Strawberries, a trustee of charitable institutions, a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man, but for all that a sly and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy.

Postmaster, a simple-minded person to the point of naivety.

The other roles don't require much explanation. Their originals are almost always before your eyes.

Gentlemen actors should especially pay attention to the last scene. The last spoken word should produce an electric shock on everyone at once, suddenly. The entire group must change position in the blink of an eye. The sound of amazement should escape from all women at once, as if from one breast. If these notes are not observed, the entire effect may disappear.

Act one

A room in the mayor's house.

Phenomenon I

Mayor, trustee of charitable institutions, superintendent of schools, judge, private bailiff, doctor, two quarterly officers.

Mayor. I invited you, gentlemen, in order to tell you some very unpleasant news: an auditor is coming to visit us.

Ammos Fedorovich. How's the auditor?

Artemy Filippovich. How's the auditor?

Mayor. Inspector from St. Petersburg incognito. And with a secret order.

Ammos Fedorovich. Here you go!

Artemy Filippovich. There was no concern, so give it up!

Luka Lukic. Lord God! also with a secret order!

Mayor. It was as if I had a presentiment: today I dreamed all night about two extraordinary rats. Really, I’ve never seen anything like this: black, of unnatural size! They came, they smelled it, and they left. Here I will read to you a letter that I received from Andrei Ivanovich Chmykhov, whom you, Artemy Filippovich, know. This is what he writes: “Dear friend, godfather and benefactor (mutters in an undertone, quickly running his eyes) ... and notify you." A! here: “I hasten, by the way, to notify you that an official has arrived with orders to inspect the entire province and especially our district (raises thumbs up significantly). I learned this from the most reliable people, although he represents himself as a private person. Because I know that you, like everyone else, have their share of sins, because you are a smart person and you don’t like to miss what’s in your hands...” (stopping) well, there are his own here... “then I advise you to take precautions, because he can arrive at any hour, unless he has already arrived and lives somewhere incognito... Yesterday, I...” Well, then family matters went: “... sister Anna Kirilovna came to us with her husband; Ivan Kirilovich has gained a lot of weight and keeps playing the violin...” - and so on, and so on. So this is the circumstance!

Ammos Fedorovich. Yes, this circumstance is... extraordinary, simply extraordinary. Something for nothing.

Luka Lukic. Why, Anton Antonovich, why is this? Why do we need an auditor?

Mayor. For what! So, apparently, it’s fate! (Sighing.) Until now, thank God, we have been approaching other cities; Now it's our turn.

Ammos Fedorovich. I think, Anton Antonovich, that there is a subtle and more political reason here. This means this: Russia... yes... wants to wage war, and the ministry, you see, sent an official to find out if there is any treason.

Mayor. Eh, where have you had enough! Still a smart man! There is treason in the county town! What is he, borderline, or what? Yes, from here, even if you ride for three years, you won’t reach any state.

Ammos Fedorovich. No, I’ll tell you, you’re not that... you’re not... The authorities have subtle views: even if they are far away, they are shaking their heads.

Mayor. It shakes or doesn’t shake, but I, gentlemen, warned you. Look, I have made some orders for my part, and I advise you to do the same. Especially you, Artemy Filippovich! Without a doubt, a passing official will want, first of all, to inspect the charitable institutions under your jurisdiction - and therefore you should make sure that everything is decent: the caps would be clean, and the sick would not look like blacksmiths, as they usually do at home.

Artemy Filippovich. Well, that's nothing. The caps, perhaps, can be put on clean.

Mayor. Yes, and also above each bed to write in Latin or in some other language... that’s your thing, Christian Ivanovich, every disease: when someone got sick, what day and date... It’s not good that your patients smoke such strong tobacco, that you always sneeze when you walk in. And it would be better if there were fewer of them: they would immediately be attributed to poor judgment or the lack of skill of the doctor.

Artemy Filippovich. ABOUT! As for healing, Christian Ivanovich and I took our own measures: the closer to nature, the better - we do not use expensive medicines. A simple man: if he dies, he will die anyway; if he recovers, then he will recover. And it would be difficult for Christian Ivanovich to communicate with them: he doesn’t know a word of Russian.

Christian Ivanovich makes a sound somewhat similar to the letter and And several on e.

Mayor. I would also advise you, Ammos Fedorovich, to pay attention to public places. In your front hall, where petitioners usually come, the guards have kept domestic geese with little goslings that are scurrying around under your feet. It is, of course, commendable for anyone to start a household chore, and why shouldn’t the watchman start one? only, you know, it’s indecent in such a place... I wanted to point this out to you before, but somehow I forgot everything.

Ammos Fedorovich. But today I’ll order them all to be taken to the kitchen. If you want, come and have lunch.

Mayor. Besides, it’s bad that you have all sorts of rubbish dried in your very presence and a hunting rifle right above the cupboard with papers. I know you love hunting, but it’s better to accept him for a while, and then, when the inspector passes, perhaps you can hang him again. Also, your assessor... he, of course, is a knowledgeable person, but he smells as if he had just come out of a distillery, this is also not good. I wanted to tell you about this for a long time, but I don’t remember, I was distracted by something. There is a remedy against this, if it really is, as he says, it has a natural smell: you can advise him to eat onions, or garlic, or something else. In this case, Christian Ivanovich can help with various medications.

Christian Ivanovich makes the same sound.

Ammos Fedorovich. No, it’s no longer possible to get rid of this: he says that his mother hurt him as a child, and since then he’s been giving him a little vodka.

Mayor. Yes, I just noticed that to you. As for the internal regulations and what Andrei Ivanovich calls sins in the letter, I cannot say anything. Yes, and it’s strange to say: there is no person who does not have some sins behind him. This is already arranged this way by God himself, and the Voltaireans are in vain speaking against it.

Ammos Fedorovich. What do you think, Anton Antonovich, are sins? Sins and sins are different. I tell everyone openly that I take bribes, but with what bribes? Greyhound puppies. This is a completely different matter.

Mayor. Well, puppies or something else - all bribes.

Ammos Fedorovich. Well, no, Anton Antonovich. But, for example, if someone’s fur coat costs five hundred rubles, and his wife’s shawl...

Mayor. Well, what if you take bribes with greyhound puppies? But you don’t believe in God; you never go to church; and at least I am firm in my faith and go to church every Sunday. And you... Oh, I know you: if you start talking about the creation of the world, your hair will just stand on end.

Ammos Fedorovich. But I figured it out on my own, with my own mind.

Mayor. Well, otherwise a lot of intelligence is worse than not having it at all. However, I only mentioned the district court; but to tell the truth, it’s unlikely that anyone will ever look there: it’s such an enviable place, God himself patronizes it. But you, Luka Lukic, as the superintendent of educational institutions, need to take special care of the teachers. They are, of course, learned people and were brought up in different colleges, but they have very strange actions, naturally inseparable from an academic title. One of them, for example, this one, who has a fat face... I don’t remember his last name, can’t get by without making a grimace when he ascends to the pulpit, like that (makes a grimace) and then he begins to iron his beard with his hand from under his tie. Of course, if he makes such a face on a student, then it’s nothing: maybe it’s what’s needed there, I can’t judge that; but judge for yourself, if he does this to a visitor, it can be very bad: Mr. Inspector or someone else who may take it personally. God knows what could happen from this.

Luka Lukic. What should I really do with him? I've already told him several times. Just the other day, when our leader came into the classroom, he made such a face as I had never seen before. He did it out of a good heart, but he reprimanded me: why are free-thinking thoughts being instilled in young people?

Mayor. I must note the same thing about the historical teacher. He is a learned head - it’s obvious, and he’s picked up a ton of information, but he only explains with such fervor that he doesn’t remember himself. I listened to him once: well, for now I was talking about the Assyrians and Babylonians - nothing yet, but when I got to Alexander the Great, I can’t tell you what happened to him. I thought it was a fire, by God! He ran away from the pulpit and with all the strength he had, he slammed the chair on the floor. Of course, Alexander the Great is a hero, but why break the chairs? This results in a loss to the treasury.

Luka Lukic. Yes, he's hot! I have already noticed this to him several times... He says: “As you wish, I will not spare my life for science.”

Mayor. Yes, this is the inexplicable law of fate: an intelligent person is either a drunkard, or he will make such a face that he can at least endure the saints.

Luka Lukic. God forbid that you serve in an academic capacity! You are afraid of everything: everyone gets in the way, everyone wants to show that he is also an intelligent person.

Mayor. That would be nothing - damned incognito! Suddenly he’ll look in: “Oh, you’re here, my dear! And who, say, is the judge here? - “Lyapkin-Tyapkin.” - “And bring Lyapkin-Tyapkin here! Who is the trustee of charitable institutions?” - “Strawberry”. - “And serve Strawberries here!” That's what's bad!

Phenomenon II

The same goes for the postmaster.

Postmaster. Explain, gentlemen, what official is coming?

Mayor. Haven't you heard?

Postmaster. I heard from Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky. It just arrived at my post office.

Mayor. Well? What do you think about this?

Postmaster. What do I think? there will be a war with the Turks.

Ammos Fedorovich. In one word! I thought the same thing myself.

Mayor. Yes, both of them hit the mark!

Postmaster. Right, war with the Turks. It's all the Frenchman crap.

Mayor. What a war with the Turks! It will just be bad for us, not for the Turks. This is already known: I have a letter.

Postmaster. And if so, then there will be no war with the Turks.

Mayor. Well, how are you, Ivan Kuzmich?

Postmaster. What am I? How are you, Anton Antonovich?

Mayor. What am I? There is no fear, but just a little... Merchants and citizenship confuse me. They say that they had a hard time with me, but I, by God, if I took it from someone else, it was truly without any hatred. I even think (takes him by the arm and takes him aside) I even wonder if there was some kind of denunciation against me. Why do we really need an auditor? Listen, Ivan Kuzmich, could you, for our common benefit, print out every letter that arrives at your post office, incoming and outgoing, you know, a little bit and read it: does it contain some kind of report or just correspondence? If not, then you can seal it again; however, you can even give the letter printed out.

Postmaster. I know, I know... Don’t teach me this, I do this not so much out of precaution, but more out of curiosity: I love to know what’s new in the world. Let me tell you, this is a very interesting read. You will read another letter with pleasure - this is how various passages are described... and what edification... better than in the Moskovskie Vedomosti!

Mayor. Well, tell me, have you read anything about some official from St. Petersburg?

Postmaster. No, there is nothing about the St. Petersburg ones, but a lot is said about the Kostroma and Saratov ones. It’s a pity, however, that you don’t read letters: there are wonderful places. Recently, one lieutenant wrote to a friend and described the ball in the most playful way... very, very well: “My life, dear friend, flows, he says, in the empyrean: there are many young ladies, music is playing, the standard is jumping...” - with great, with great feeling described. I left it with me on purpose. Do you want me to read it?

Mayor. Well, now there's no time for that. So do me a favor, Ivan Kuzmich: if by chance you come across a complaint or report, then detain him without any reasoning.

Postmaster. With great pleasure.

Ammos Fedorovich. Look, you will get it someday for this.

Postmaster. Ah, fathers!

Mayor. Nothing, nothing. It would be a different matter if you made something public out of this, but this is a family matter.

Ammos Fedorovich. Yes, something bad is brewing! And I admit, I was on my way to you, Anton Antonovich, in order to treat you to a little dog. Full sister to the male you know. After all, you heard that Cheptovich and Varkhovinsky started a lawsuit, and now I have the luxury of hunting hares on the lands of both.

Mayor. Fathers, your hares are not dear to me now: the damned incognito sits in my head. You just wait for the door to open and walk away...

Scene III

The same ones, Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, both enter out of breath.

Bobchinsky. Emergency!

Dobchinsky. Unexpected news!

All. What, what is it?

Dobchinsky. Unforeseen event: we arrive at the hotel...

Bobchinsky (interrupting). We arrive with Pyotr Ivanovich at the hotel...

Dobchinsky (interrupting). Eh, let me, Pyotr Ivanovich, I’ll tell you.

Bobchinsky. Eh, no, excuse me, I... excuse me, excuse me... you don’t even have such a syllable...

Dobchinsky. And you will get confused and not remember everything.

Bobchinsky. I remember, by God, I remember. Don’t bother me, let me tell you, don’t bother me! Tell me, gentlemen, please don’t let Pyotr Ivanovich interfere.

Mayor. Yes, tell me, for God's sake, what is it? My heart is not in the right place. Sit down, gentlemen! Take the chairs! Pyotr Ivanovich, here's a chair for you.

Everyone sits down around both Petrov Ivanovichs.

Well, what, what is it?

Bobchinsky. Excuse me, excuse me: I’ll get everything in order. As soon as I had the pleasure of leaving you after you deigned to be embarrassed by the letter you received, yes, sir, then I ran in... please don’t interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich! I already know everything, everything, everything, sir. So, if you please, I ran to Korobkin. And not finding Korobkin at home, he turned to Rastakovsky, and not finding Rastakovsky, he went to Ivan Kuzmich to tell him the news you received, and, going from there, he met with Pyotr Ivanovich...

Dobchinsky (interrupting). Near the booth where pies are sold.

Bobchinsky. Near the booth where pies are sold. Yes, having met Pyotr Ivanovich, I say to him: “Have you heard about the news that Anton Antonovich received from a reliable letter?” And Pyotr Ivanovich already heard about this from your housekeeper Avdotya, who, I don’t know, was sent to Philip Antonovich Pochechuev for something.

Dobchinsky (interrupting). For a keg of French vodka.

Bobchinsky (moving his hands away). For a keg of French vodka. So Pyotr Ivanovich and I went to Pochechuev... You, Pyotr Ivanovich... this... don’t interrupt, please don’t interrupt!.. We went to Pochechuev, and on the road Pyotr Ivanovich said: “Let’s go,” he says, “to the tavern. It’s in my stomach... I haven’t eaten anything since this morning, I’ve got stomach tremors..." - yes, sir, it’s in Pyotr Ivanovich’s stomach... “And at the tavern,” he says, “they’ve now brought fresh salmon, so we’ll have a snack.” . We had just arrived at the hotel when suddenly a young man...

Dobchinsky (interrupting). Not bad-looking, in a private dress.

Bobchinsky. Not bad-looking, in a particular dress, walks around the room like that, and in his face there’s a kind of reasoning... physiognomy... actions, and here (twirls his hand near his forehead) many, many things. It was as if I had a presentiment and said to Pyotr Ivanovich: “There’s something here for a reason, sir.” Yes. And Pyotr Ivanovich already blinked his finger and called the innkeeper, sir, the innkeeper Vlas: his wife gave birth to him three weeks ago, and such a lively boy will, just like his father, run the inn. Pyotr Ivanovich called Vlas and asked him quietly: “Who, he says, is this young man?” - and Vlas answers this: “This,” he says... Eh, don’t interrupt, Pyotr Ivanovich, please don’t interrupt; you won’t tell, by God you won’t tell: you whisper, I know you have one tooth whistling in your mouth... “This,” he says, is a young man, an official, yes, sir, coming from St. Petersburg, and by last name, he says, Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, sir, but he goes, he says, to the Saratov province and, he says, he attests himself in a very strange way: he’s been living for another week, he’s not leaving the tavern, he’s taking everything into his account and doesn’t want to pay a penny.” As he told me this, and so it was brought to my senses from above. "Eh!" - I say to Pyotr Ivanovich...

Dobchinsky. No, Pyotr Ivanovich, it was I who said: “eh!”

Bobchinsky. First you said it, and then I said it too. “Eh! - Pyotr Ivanovich and I said. “Why on earth should he sit here when his road lies to the Saratov province?” Yes, sir. But he is this official.

Mayor. Who, what official?

Bobchinsky. The official about whom you deigned to receive a notification is an auditor.

Mayor (in fear). What are you, God bless you! It's not him.

Dobchinsky. He! and he doesn’t pay money and doesn’t go. Who else should it be if not him? And the road ticket is registered in Saratov.

Bobchinsky. He, he, by God he... So observant: he examined everything. I saw that Pyotr Ivanovich and I were eating salmon, more because Pyotr Ivanovich was talking about his stomach... yes, so he looked into our plates. I was filled with fear.

Mayor. Lord, have mercy on us sinners! Where does he live there?

Dobchinsky. In the fifth room, under the stairs.

Bobchinsky. In the same room where passing officers fought last year.

Mayor. How long has he been here?

Dobchinsky. And it’s already two weeks. Came to see Vasily the Egyptian.

Mayor. Two weeks! (To the side.) Fathers, matchmakers! Bring it out, holy saints! In these two weeks the non-commissioned officer's wife was flogged! The prisoners were not given provisions! There's a tavern on the streets, it's unclean! A shame! vilification! (He grabs his head.)

Artemy Filippovich. Well, Anton Antonovich? - Parade to the hotel.

Ammos Fedorovich. No no! Put your head forward, the clergy, the merchants; here in the book “The Acts of John Mason”...

Mayor. No no; let me do it myself. There were difficult situations in life, we went, and even received thanks. Perhaps God will bear it now. (Addressing Bobchinsky.) You say he is a young man?

Bobchinsky. Young, about twenty-three or four years old.

Mayor. So much the better: you’ll get wind of the young man sooner. It’s a problem if the old devil is the one, and the young one is all on top. You, gentlemen, get ready for your part, and I will go on my own, or at least with Pyotr Ivanovich, privately, for a walk, to see if those passing by are in trouble. Hey Svistunov!

Svistunov. Anything?

Mayor. Go now for a private bailiff; or not, I need you. Tell someone there to send a private bailiff to me as soon as possible, and come here.

The quarterly runs in a hurry.

Artemy Filippovich. Let's go, let's go, Ammos Fedorovich! In fact, disaster can happen.

Ammos Fedorovich. What do you have to be afraid of? I put clean caps on the sick, and the ends were in the water.

Artemy Filippovich. What hubcaps! The sick were ordered to give gabersup, but I have cabbage wafting through all the corridors, so just take care of your nose.

Ammos Fedorovich. And I’m calm about this. In fact, who will go to the district court? And even if he looks at some paper, he won’t be happy with life. I’ve been sitting on the judge’s chair for fifteen years now, and when I look at the memorandum – ah! I’ll just wave my hand. Solomon himself will not decide what is true and what is not true in it.

The judge, the trustee of charitable institutions, the superintendent of schools and the postmaster leave and at the door encounter the returning policeman.

Description

Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General" is one of the best works of Russian literature, still relevant today. The audiobook, voiced by narrator P. Vasilevsky, tells about the customs of a county town, the residents of which learned that an inspector should come to them incognito, and they are ready to “recognize” him in every stranger who comes to the city.

Mayor Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky receives a letter from his godfather, in which he reports that an official from St. Petersburg will visit their district with instructions to inspect the order in the district cities incognito. On this occasion, the mayor gathers his subordinates, the city leadership, so that they do not fall face down in front of the auditor. Based on his advice, one can judge the depressing state of affairs in the city: domesticated geese in public places, treatment of patients without medicine, a never-drying assessor and a curious postmaster who opens other people’s letters for entertainment. Nevertheless, Anton Antonovich is trying to put an external gloss on the city, not caring at all about the real state of affairs.

Meanwhile, the landowners Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, excited by the expected arrival of the auditor, have already found an “auditor” - a young official from St. Petersburg who has been living in a hotel for two weeks, has not paid for the room and has not moved out. This completely normal behavior seems suspicious to frightened officials. The message from Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky further increased the excitement among the nobility, who hastily gathered and went to the hotel.

The young official Khlestakov is in reality a card player, a spendthrift and a reveler who has spent all his money on entertainment and now not only cannot pay for his room, but also has no money for food. The owner of the inn also understands this, having forbidden feeding such a guest and threatening to complain to the mayor about the debtor. Therefore, when the mayor comes to his room to introduce himself to the “auditor,” Khlestakov thinks that he has come to put the defaulter in prison. The not very smart young man behaves naively and directly in a conversation with the mayor, but this only strengthens the mayor’s confidence that in front of him is an “incognito” and “subtle little thing.”

Khlestakov only realizes over time that he is being taken for the wrong person and decides to take advantage of the situation to live for his own pleasure. However, the young man does not need any special effort for this, because the officials of the county town have already come up with the whole legend for him.

But “The Inspector General” is not a comedy of intrigue, where all the action is based on deception and secret passages of the heroes. This play was created by N.V. Gogol as a comedy of characters, where the main comic effect is based on descriptions of the morals of the Russian province. The entire action of the comedy is built on the characters' characters.
What makes Gogol's play unique is the absence of positive characters in it. Each of his characters, if not a rogue, then a bribe-taker, if not an embezzler, then a slacker, a swindler, a rogue. The writer acutely and vividly showed his contemporaries the society in which they, without noticing it, lived. To this day, Gogol’s satire resonates in the hearts of readers, because the morals of officials have not changed that much in a couple of hundred years.

Since its release in 1835, Gogol’s comedy has gained particular love among readers, who immediately “stole” it into quotes that are still in use today. “A big ship has a long voyage!”, “And bring Lyapkin-Tyapkin here!”, “Who are you laughing at? You’re laughing at yourself!” - these and other well-known expressions came into our speech from the immortal comedy of Gogol. Therefore, knowledge of such a play is a necessary component of the education of any educated person.

To feel the diversity of N.V. depicted. Gogol's characters, to feel all the comical situations of the play, it is best to listen to this audiobook performed by Pyotr Vasilevsky. This announcer with all the fullness of feelings conveys in his voice the nature and temperament of each character, reads clearly, measuredly, making precise intonation pauses. Where else but in a play intended for theatrical production, that is, for listening, the skill of the speaker best serves its better understanding.

There is little that can so subtly, accurately and acutely reflect the tragedy of an unsightly reality better than its demonstration in a comedic light. Judging by the reaction that followed, Gogol succeeded perfectly in his play “The Inspector General.” The author himself repeatedly noted that he sought to collect and generally convey all possible vices characteristic of his contemporaries, especially in bureaucratic society, in order to laugh at them heartily. According to surviving evidence, the writer had an almost physical need to create a bright satirical comedy. For this reason, Gogol interrupted work on Dead Souls. It is believed that the plot for the work was suggested to the author by Pushkin. At that time, anecdotal stories of someone being mistaken for an inspector in various places were quite common. The first version of Gogol’s comedy “The Inspector General” came out from the writer’s pen literally two months later. In 1836 he presented the play to the public. The result was mixed. The writers received it quite enthusiastically, and high society, having clearly sensed the essence, received it irritably, declaring the story pure fiction. But the production was not banned, and Gogol corrected it until 1842. This is the version available today.

“The Inspector General” is a clearly social comedy, satirical, created in compliance with the basic canons of the genre. It captivates readers with a clear, consistent development of events, the comedy of which increases with each action, reaching its highest degree in the 8th scene of the 5th act. The ending remains open and, at the same time, quite sufficient, implying a completely different story. The author interrupts his story about the extraordinary events that took place in one provincial town with a silent scene that allows you to better feel the absurdity of everything that is happening. Of course, the actions and characters of the heroes are somewhat exaggerated, but this was done deliberately. After all, the task assigned to the writer must be completed in full. And in “The Inspector General” the goal of demonstrating the vices and degradation of personality is definitely achieved. Unfortunately, the shortcomings ridiculed by Gogol have not outlived their usefulness to this day. Only some have acquired modern forms and names (for example, corruption). Therefore, the relevance of the work does not need proof.

On our website you can read the summary online, read “The Inspector General” in full or download it freely.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol

Auditor

There is no point in blaming the mirror if your face is crooked.
Popular proverb
Comedy in five acts

Characters

Anton Antonovich Skvoznik-Dmukhanovsky, mayor.

Anna Andreevna, his wife.

Marya Antonovna, his daughter.

Luka Lukich Khlopov, superintendent of schools.

His wife.

Ammos Fedorovich Lyapkin-Tyapkin, judge.

Artemy Filippovich Strawberry, trustee of charitable institutions.

Ivan Kuzmich Shpekin, postmaster.

Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky, city landowner.

Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky, city landowner.

Ivan Aleksandrovich Khlestakov, an official from St. Petersburg.

Osip, his servant.

Christian Ivanovich Gibner, district doctor.

Fyodor Ivanovich Lyulyukov, a retired official, an honorary person in the city.

Ivan Lazarevich Rastakovsky, a retired official, an honorary person in the city.

Stepan Ivanovich Korobkin, a retired official, an honorary person in the city.

Stepan Ilyich Ukhovertov, private bailiff.

Svistunov, policeman

Pugovitsyn, policeman

Derzhimorda, policeman

Abdulin, merchant.

Fevronya Petrovna Poshlepkina, mechanic.

Non-commissioned officer's wife.

Mishka, the mayor's servant.

Inn servant.

Guests and guests, merchants, townspeople, petitioners.

Characters and costumes
Notes for gentlemen actors
The mayor, already old in the service and a very intelligent person in his own way. Although he is a bribe-taker, he behaves very respectably; quite serious; a few are even resonant; speaks neither loudly nor quietly, neither more nor less. His every word is significant. His facial features are coarse and hard, like those of anyone who began his service from the lower ranks. The transition from fear to joy, from rudeness to arrogance is quite rapid, as in a person with crudely developed inclinations of the soul. He is dressed, as usual, in his uniform with buttonholes and boots with spurs. His hair is cropped and streaked with gray.

Anna Andreevna, his wife, is a provincial coquette, not yet quite old, brought up half on novels and albums, half on chores in her pantry and maiden room. She is very curious and shows vanity on occasion. Sometimes she takes power over her husband only because he is unable to answer her; but this power extends only to trifles and consists only of reprimands and ridicule. She changes into different dresses four times throughout the play.

Khlestakov, a young man of about twenty-three, thin and thin; somewhat stupid and, as they say, without a king in his head - one of those people whom in the offices they call empty-headed. He speaks and acts without any consideration. He is unable to stop constant attention on any thought. His speech is abrupt, and words fly out of his mouth completely unexpectedly. The more the person playing this role shows sincerity and simplicity, the more he will win. Dressed in fashion.

Osip, the servant, is as servants who are several years old usually are. He speaks seriously, looks somewhat downward, is a reasoner, and likes to lecture himself to his master. His voice is always almost even, and in conversation with the master it takes on a stern, abrupt and even somewhat rude expression. He is smarter than his master and therefore guesses more quickly, but he does not like to talk much and is silently a rogue. His costume is a gray or shabby frock coat.

Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, both short, short, very curious; extremely similar to each other; both with small bellies; Both speak quickly and are extremely helpful with gestures and hands. Dobchinsky is a little taller and more serious than Bobchinsky, but Bobchinsky is more cheeky and lively than Dobchinsky.

Lyapkin-Tyapkin, a judge, is a man who has read five or six books and is therefore somewhat free-thinking. The hunter is big on guesses, and therefore he gives weight to every word. The person representing him must always maintain a significant mien on his face. He speaks in a deep bass voice with an elongated drawl, a wheeze and a gulp - like an ancient clock that first hisses and then strikes.

Strawberry, a trustee of charitable institutions, is a very fat, clumsy and clumsy man, but for all that he is a sneak and a rogue. Very helpful and fussy.

The postmaster is a simple-minded person to the point of naivety.

The other roles don't require much explanation. Their originals are almost always before your eyes.

Gentlemen actors should especially pay attention to the last scene. The last spoken word should produce an electric shock on everyone at once, suddenly. The entire group must change position in the blink of an eye. The sound of amazement should escape from all women at once, as if from one breast. If these notes are not observed, the entire effect may disappear.

Act one

Room in the mayor's house

Phenomenon I

Mayor, trustee of charitable institutions, superintendent of schools, judge, private bailiff, doctor, two quarterly officers.

Mayor. I invited you, gentlemen, in order to tell you some very unpleasant news: an auditor is coming to visit us.

Ammos Fedorovich. How's the auditor?

Artemy Filippovich. How's the auditor?

Mayor. Inspector from St. Petersburg, incognito. And with a secret order.

Ammos Fedorovich. Here you go!

Artemy Filippovich. There was no concern, so give it up!

Luka Lukic. Lord God! also with a secret prescription!

Mayor. It was as if I had a presentiment: today I dreamed all night about two extraordinary rats. Really, I’ve never seen anything like this: black, of unnatural size! They came, they smelled it, and they left. Here I will read to you a letter that I received from Andrei Ivanovich Chmykhov, whom you, Artemy Filippovich, know. This is what he writes: “Dear friend, godfather and benefactor (mutters in a low voice, quickly running his eyes)... and notify you." A! Here it is: “I hasten, by the way, to notify you that I have arrived