Review: Viiru ja Pesonen – Viiru kateissa

VIIRU AND PESONEN GO ON ADVENTURES AT THE CITY THEATRE

The performances of the Helsinki City Theatre’s Family Theatre continue with the play Viiru ja Pesonen Viiru katoissa (Viiru and Pesonen Missing in the Missing Circle) for kindergarten and primary school children in the foyer of a small stage. The director of the play, Peter Engkvist , is internationally known and one of Sweden’s most famous theatre personalities.
In Kallio-Lehti, the performance is reviewed by Tuomas (6 years) and Jaakko (3 years), who fit the play’s target group appropriately.
Ukko Pesonen lives in the countryside in a small house with his chickens. He has not been able to get a hostess, and even though a few talkative neighbours stop by from time to time, something seems to be missing. One day, Mrs. Anttonen brings him a squeaky box with a little cat named Viiru inside. She gets an absolutely wonderful cat! Someone who understands Pesonen’s speech and can speak himself. There is no longer a lonely and quiet moment in Pesonen’s house – except when Viiru disappears.

The set and costumes of the play, written by Sven Nordqvist, are by Elina Kolehmainen. The play has been translated into Finnish by Eppu Nuotio, and it stars Sami Hokkanen as Viiru and Pekka Huotari as Pesonen.

Viiru and Pesonen seen by children


Tuomas (6 years old) watched the play right in front of the stage, sometimes even lying down. – The performance was good and funny, Tuomas commented freshly. It was especially funny that suddenly Viiru was Anttoska or a chicken. But the best thing was when Pesonen was a spider who couldn’t keep his mouth shut, but chattered all the time. Tuomas had one wish: he would have liked to see more space scenery in the scene where Viiru was playfully driving a car and finally a rocket.

Jaakko (3 years old), observed the stage from numerous different viewing positions. – The most exciting thing was when Viiru went missing. But the badger that sniffed the box that Viiru had ended up in) should have been really hairy in Jaakko’s opinion. Jaakko remembered this scene exactly from the book.

Adult comments

The performance conveyed the warm-heartedness familiar from the books nicely. Pekka Huotari Pesonena was exactly as I had imagined her in my mind. And Sami Hokkanen as a streak was as fast-paced and inventive as he should be. It was probably important for the children to keep the familiar image.
The performance included well-thought-out solutions that made it a unique experience, not just a staged picture book. Such were e.g. The rapid changes of roles, which Tuomas also noticed. The foyer of the small stage was an excellent venue for this type of performance.
The performance can be warmly recommended to 5-8-year-olds, whose train of thought keeps up well with quick turns. Of course, younger people will also get an experience of the performance in their own way – especially if they watch it in the morning – or in the afternoon, after a well-slept nap.