NEW YORK—When the citizens of a provincial town in 19th century Russia get wind of an imminent visit by a major government official, visiting incognito for the purpose of evaluating their social and political behaviors, the people are thrown into a tizzy. They realize they must put their best foot forward.
The stress accorded by this visit tends to bring out their most intense behaviors—oddly, not always the most socially acceptable ones. At least not to us, the possibly self-righteous and superior men and women in the audience.
Michael Urie's drunk scene is a highpoint of the production.
