Review: Svartsjuka

A STRONG DOSE OF JEALOUSY

Jealousy is like a drug. You can become addicted to it,” says Helen, 55-year-old lawyer in Esther Vilar’s play.
As if as an experiment, the Argentine-born author has created a triangle drama with a man who doesn’t even show himself as the fourth wheel
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The women of the potential Laszlo bully themselves and each other even without it.
The viewer is gradually given a recognizable model of the middle-obese and aging Laszlo, including his diet and lovemaking positions.

Svartsjuka does not delve into the anatomy of relationships, but sheds light on the catfight between women competing for the same man. The hairs ruffle and the discretion falls away.
You can nail another woman as long as you don’t get caught.

The play progresses so that faxes are banging. From a presentation point of view, the author’s idea is difficult and would be better suited to a film. On stage, Helen, Yana and Iris communicate with each other as if the others were not visible.
Director Raila Leppäkoski has not found a completely natural solution for presenting interaction via faxes. The women sometimes talk past each other, sometimes towards each other.
However, the intense actors gradually make the air spark.

Leena Uotila plays Laszlo’s wife Helen. Her life experience and directness attract the audience.

Jonna Järnefelt is a 40-year-old architect Yana (Jaana), who is struggling with her age, and who finds it difficult to come in second. In the grip of jealousy, Järnefelt bends to such twists and turns that comedy eventually begins to rear its head.
The third wheel is a 25-year-old student and yoga teacher Iris (Cecilia Paul). Iris learns that the teachings of Buddhism are ill-suited to a competitive proposal.

How far can you go if you want to keep the man you love?
This is a question that Europe has been pondering since 2001, when Vilar’s play premiered in Paris and began touring from theatre to theatre.
The play is manna at least for the female audience and female actors, why not also for men. It has juicy roles and role models.
Jealousy can also be enjoyed – at least from the sidelines.