Review: Risto Räppääjä ja villi kone

LIFE IS NOT BAD

Risto the Rapper trusts in the magic of the theatre

Dear Katja Krohn, dear Paavo Kerosuo, dear Santeri Kinnunen!
It was relaxing to see a fast-paced children’s performance that shows what the magic of theatre can be like. My 9-year-old companion also liked what he saw, even though “there was too much computer stuff”.
The Helsinki City Theatre’s performance is a free-form adaptation of the work Risto the Rapper and the Wild Machine. The play has a surprisingly clear message, but luckily on the theatre stage, the attention is primarily focused on the imaginative performance.
After all, a computer is a dangerous gadget. Aunt Rauha buys Risto a computer, because the radio says that the young person would otherwise be marginalised. Things are funny for Risto: he is completely immersed in virtual games, and the rest of the world loses its meaning. This is the beginning of Aunt Rauha’s effort to save Risto back to the real world. And what happened then…
Director Katja Krohn makes sure that there is something going on on stage. The lines are funny, but even funnier are the mimicry and stage handling as well as Sari Haapamäki’s choreography.
The traditional methods of theatre with their repetitions, comic chases and foolishness make the performance joyful and entertaining for all ages. Krohn has a small and uneven ensemble at his disposal, but he has gotten a lot out of it.

Iiro Rantala has composed music for both the film Risto the Rapper and the previous performance Risto the Rapper and the Freezer Elvi at the City Theatre.
This time, firstly, there is too little music, and secondly, it was more flat than before. The two-person “band” performed with a surprisingly low profile, and vocalist reinforcement would have been needed for the entire performance.


Kinnunen to the championship series


Santeri Kinnunen plays the role of his life as Lennart Lindberg. Lindberg is an old boy and Aunt Rauha’s neighbour who, like Risto the Rapper, falls under the spell of a computer. As a comedian, Kinnunen has matured into the master series.

Annu Valonen Aunt Rauha and Sanna-June as Hyde Nell are fully involved, and Sami Uotila plays funny characters as a pizza delivery man and pop star.
Paavo Kerosuo is a phenomenal Risto the Rapper. Kerosuo is playful, lively, supple, sparkling and funny. Even though the actor is no longer a teenage boy, one can only hope that he will still be able to perform in future Rapper episodes.
I hope to see the Risto the Rapper musical next, which has been invested in a little more musically: a proper band, more good songs and skilled singers.
I know that some people disapprove of series and sequels. Personally, I hope that serialization means refinement and development.
Why should a good concept be discontinued when there is enough enthusiasm and demand?