Review: Försäljarna

A SALESMAN SELLS, DOESN’T THINK

Mamet’s successful play also lends itself to a lighter interpretation

The saying “anything goes” probably comes from American English. At its core, American English is Försäljarna, which has begun its performance tour at Lilla Teatern, and has been performed in Finland under the name Myyntitykit.
Written by David Mamet in the 1980s, the play was one of the successes of its time, flexible theatre that can be performed from a cutting depiction of time and people to a more or less entertaining comedy play.
In Lillan, it feels like the time for group visits to Christmas parties has begun again, and the theatre’s skilled male cast, led by Asko Sarkola , has been put on stage to entertain the audience.<BR
Kiinteistövälittäjäyhtiön uuden johtajan myyntimiehilleen julistaman myyntikilpailun eettis-yhteiskunnalliset ja Mametin kritisoimat ilmiöt eivät Yrjönkadulla esitystä paina, paitsi jos tarkoituksena ei kaikkineen ole ollutkin hakea kyyneleitä naurun takaa.
At least the audience laughs, if you don’t count a few older generation viewers who blushed and listened to the carefully considered entrances of the ugly words translated bluntly from English.
This observation is not a moral sermon, spoken language is a reflection of its time.

Pentti Kotkaniemi has precisely directed the actors to what was apparently intended, and especially the set design for the first half of Jyrki Seppä’s play works well.
At the beginning of this section, the duel between Asko Sarkola, who is returning to på svenska acting, and Sampo Sarkola , in which the senior speaks with his whole being and the junior listens, is also indicative: Asko Sarkola is so honestly dishonest that you can’t help but laugh.