The Government Inspector Review

Our guest columnist, Sheri, went to the Shakesphere theather to review their latest play. Check out our The Government Inspector review:

Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector has been extended at the Lansburgh Theatre until November 4, either because the cast is having such a good time together that they couldn’t bear to split up sooner, or because someone with an eye for beauty recognized that striking James Noone’s sets before absolutely necessary would be perpetuating a crime against art. A play as timelessly funny as Gogol’s deserves a sympathetic treatment: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s performance embraces the earthy and sardonic script with verve but without descending into pastiche.

Forget worrying about screwing the 47 percent: Gogol’s feckless mayor and his cabinet run a kleptocracy on lines that would be truly titanic, save for their limited scope in a provincial, pre-industrial Russian town. The Government Inspector is brilliant political satire, no less piquant today for its effectiveness when originally produced in 1836. The characters, none of them likeable, are as exaggerated as their florid costumes. As the convoluted situation and the mayor’s grip on power unravel, the audience is left with the comfort that, in the end, justice for the people will prevail. The theme of political corruption and ineptitude finds traction with modern audiences, particularly in the current acrimonious pre-election environment. It must have been tempting to set this performance somewhere other than 19th-century Russia: modern America would work almost as well (but then some of the jokes couldn’t be as risqué).

Most comedies fall along a spectrum from mildly amusing to outright hilarious: few ever achieve, let alone maintain, the decibel level of laughter elicited by the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s adaptation of The Government Inspector. If you’re looking for a change from the usual scene, let Cloture Club recommend you to visit the Shakespeare Theater’s latest play: The Government Inspector. To purchase tickets for the show click here.

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The Xbox Live Election Hub Review

We were fortunate enough to visit DC’s Microsoft HQ and meet with Jose Pinero, senior director of marketing and public relations, and his team to demo their new Xbox Live Election Hub. Anyone who is a subscriber to their online service, Xbox Live, will be able to get election information directly from their game console. The election hub is merging the boundaries of interactive technology and television.

With more than 40 million Xbox Live users, Microsoft hopes their Election Hub will engage video game users in a way that hasn’t been done before. Gamers are use to using XBox live to playing interactive video games, watch Netflix, MSNBC clips and even Hulu+. Now they can engage in the electoral process as it happens. If you are wondering how Xbox Live Election Hub will work you will get your first chance this Wednesday, October 3rd during the presidential debate.

XBox Live Election Hub

After booting into your xbox, head over to the Video section and click XBox Live Election Hub. During the presidential debate various pop up questions will appear on your screen like “Did the candidate answer the question?” or “Which candidate would you play xbox with?”. After answering one of these questions with your controller (or kinect camera) an instant poll result will appear and will continue to populate as more votes are tallied. This process really allows you as a the viewer to become a participant.

Non intrusive interactive poll and results.

In addition to interactive debates, the Election Hub will also feature video content from Microsoft partners at MTV’s Rock the Vote, Hulu and YouGov. Rock the Vote will help provide users with voter registration information if you’re not registered yet. The latest Saturday Night Live skits will also be available along with informative details about policy issues.

The Xbox has had a large success from starting as video game console, but now has expanded into television. In the future, Microsoft is betting on a greater convergence of these two mediums. With partners such as MSNBC, ESPN and more, we can expect from Microsoft in the future. The Xbox Live experience has and will continue to become an entertainment and information hub for families across America.

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