Review: Iloisiin kuulemiin ja näkemiin

There is so much to sing about

In 1952, the Olympics were held in Helsinki. In the same year, Toivo Kärki composed the ever-wonderful hit song Lauluni aiheet (My Song Topics), made famous by Tapio Rautavaara. Now it is interpreted by actor Pertti Koivula in the Helsinki City Theatre’s play Joyful Heard and Goodbye, which premiered last week at Teatteristudio Pasila in Helsinki. The scriptwriters of the performance are Outi Popp and Jukka Relander.

The play, directed by Mikko Kivinen, is a historical-melodic potpourri of Finland’s contemporary history, Finnish schlager and the Finnish Broadcasting Company. On stage, in the fictional editorial office of Päiväpeili, news is made about the note crisis, the death of Stalin or Kekkonen, the collapse of the Soviet Union – topics that all Finns remember.

At times, nostalgia is tuned in with popular songs and songs typical of the era – after all, music is a mirror of the times. Kirka’s song Hetki lyö and Pelle Miljoona’s Motorway is hot get the interpretations they deserve in Sami Hokkanen’s treatment. Petja Lähde’s You, You Love Me raises nostalgia moods to the extreme. Merja Larivaara skilfully delicately delicates Hector’s song Lumi teki enkelin veteiseen . Vuokko Hovatta, Sanna Majuri and Ursula Salo are strong interpreters in every hit.

The shivers of admiration are evoked by Ultra Bra’s well-known song Minä suojan dig alltall.

The excellent Riitta Havukainen makes the chief announcer Tyyne Kälpäkä a central person in the editorial staff of Päiväpeili . In the midst of fuss and changes, he retains his style and dignity. In their roles as journalists, Hanna Vahtikari, Seppo Maijala, Jari Pehkonen, Kari Mattila and Leena Rapola get to experience how the new era – Nico, played by Antti Timonen – sweeps noble principles out of the way of playlists.

There is joyful theatre for happy hearings and goodbyes. During it, the viewer begins to long for the time when the world opened up with just the push of a radio button.