Scandal-ridden governments are always a target for laughs, whether they're large-scale shenanigans at the national level or small-town squabbles. Bob Rogers' Small Potatoes takes a look at the latter in its Jan. 13-Feb. 20 run at Off-Broadway's John Houseman Studio A. Martha Pinson directs the play, which opens Jan. 27. Inspired by Gogol's The Government Inspector, Small Potatoes takes place in upstate New York where two corrupt politicians, growing rich from several scams, wrongly imprison two strangers who might actually be government officials. The comedy made its debut at the Philipstown Theater in Putnam County.

Small Potatoes stars Dan Anderson, Carla Bianchi, Jinn S. Kim, Lee Moore, Christopher Benson-Reed, Genevieve Schartner, Anthony Spina, Eric Taylor and Joe Warik.

Designing the show are Meganne George (sets), Rych Curtiss (lighting) and Kathleen Scupp (costumes).

Tickets are $37.50 and are available by calling (212) 532-8887. The John Houseman Theatre is located at 450 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.

-- By Christine Ehren