The initial publication of Gogol's satire in 1836 was greeted by such uproar that the author was forced to leave Russia for a while. His unflattering depiction of endemic corruption among the officials and bureaucrats of 19th century Russia was objected to by, well, the corrupt officials and bureaucrats of 19th century Russia.

New theatre company Flintlock Theatre and its Artistic Director Robin Colyer – who adapted the play – have taken a few liberties with Gogol's original, and the result is a frenetic, all-singing, all-dancing, and, above all, uproariously funny retelling of this timeless story.

The play centres on the officials of a small provincial town, who are informed that the eponymous Government Inspector will be visiting them incognito. Their efforts to clean up their act – superficially at least – are interrupted by news that a distinguished individual is lodging at the inn. What follows is a series of mistaken identities and misunderstandings, in which the true extent of the town's corruption is made abundantly clear. (If you don't know the play, but are thinking that the plot sounds awfully familiar, John Cleese borrowed heavily for ‘The Hotel Inspectors' episode of Fawlty Towers).

All the roles in the play are portrayed by only four actors, and all four deserve huge praise for their incredible energy, immensely likeable performances of immensely unlikeable characters, and their chameleon-like ability to switch from one to another at (quite literally) the drop of a hat. Physical and verbal aspects are equally important, as the play's seemingly effortless wordplay is accompanied by non-stop action as the cast dash on and off, dance their way through the changes between acts, and, as if all that weren't enough, even venture out into the foyer during the interval to serenade the audience.

The play is staged in the round, which, in the cosy setting of the Old Fire Station, gives the cast great scope for some good-natured fun at the audience's expense. The aforementioned hats, along with wigs, cue-cards and other malarkey, convert the passive audience into very active participants in the proceedings. This is all done with such warmth and verve that it's impossible for even the most curmudgeonly spectator to resist.

Sadly, the two performances at the Old Fire Station – the culmination of a month-long tour – seem to be the last, as Flintlock Theatre move onto new projects. The Government Inspector was their first touring production; may they have many more.