Review: Valtakunnan häirikkö

The people cheered, the elite murmured

Controversial play about Veikko Vennamo is quality work

One of the most anticipated novelties of the autumn premieres – The Troublemaker of the Kingdom – was brought into the limelight last week at the Helsinki City Theatre. The play is funny, but at the same time sad. In short, this true story from the recent past, written by Henri Kapulainen , tells of Veikko Vennamo’s defiance, rise and fall in the intricacies of Finland’s domestic politics and when Urho Kekkonen was too strong an opponent for him.

One or two spectators could leave the theatre after the end of the performance, wondering to themselves – this is what it was – as such are the brutal human destinies that Raila Leppäkoski’s direction brings to the people who once happened. At the same time, the question may arise as to what is true and what is false in the play, where was the place for laughter, where laughter was far away.

Leaving aside the likelihood that there may be a lot of public debate on this issue, the human tragedy of the play and Veikko Vennamo’s populism have inspired Pertti Sveholm to give a brilliant interpretation of this once-multifaceted comet of political stars.

At the same time, he has dragged the entire cast of the play with him, which has required very precise work from them in the alternating interpretations of several characters. Leena Uotila, on the other hand, was able to focus on the role of Sirkka Vennamo, which she handles with skill and temperament. One can only imagine what kind of outbursts of emotion have been calmed down in the home hosted by Mrs. Sirkka. The third character in one role was Urho Kekkonen, played by Mikko Kivinen. The role is difficult, Vennamo gets to shoot, but Kekkonen has to plot – play it.

The play’s writer and director touch on issues that are still in the dark when brought to the audience. Whether we will go beyond the limit of human endurance at some point, time will tell. Several celebrity figures could be seen in the audience at the premiere, and many seemed to be secretly watching their expressions. Publicity teaches you to control your emotions even when you’re boiling inside, and nothing worth mentioning happened except in the final applause. Some of them were not enough.

The majority of the audience, on the other hand, felt that they had received a play and jokes worth all their money, the applause continued for a long time and there were plenty of flowers. One could predict with a fair degree of certainty that the play will be a small-scale permanent hit. In addition to Sveholm, Kivinen and Uotila, the cast included Pekka Huotari, Jouko Klemettilä, Petja Lähde, Jari Pehkonen and Eija Vilpas. Well acted, the people know and see. And laugh even though you should be crying.