Review: Vastanaineet
The comedy Newlyweds amuses with the hypocrisy of the British middle class
The English writer J.B. Priestley was quite a prolific writer. In addition to his books, his output included more than fifty plays, some of which regularly return to the repertoire of English theatres.
The Helsinki City Theatre selected Priestley’s When We Are Married (1937) for its programme this autumn. The comedy of the play is based on the class differences between the English about a hundred years ago. Perhaps its text, message and irony were better understood then. Today, Newlyweds is still funny in places, but it is not the farce it was apparently intended to be. Of course, the customs of the time would have had elements of farce, but they do not necessarily bother modern people much.
In theory, it was possible for anyone to enter the middle class: the criteria were not outside the group, but within it. That is why much attention was paid to good outward manners.
The unit of bourgeois purity was the family. The home began to become more private in relation to the rest of society. The wife took care of the home, while the husband earned a living for his family without sparing himself. Both roles were considered important; The wife was assisted at home by servants who took care of cleanliness and participated in raising the children.
Only the man moved outside, so he had contacts with the outside world. Attitudes towards gender became an important area that shocked Victorian morality. The home and family did not allow sexual promiscuity because it was a threat to the unity of the family and its very existence.
On this basis, Priestley searches for the elements of a farce for the play Newlyweds.
Three small-town merchant couples are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary together. The memories return to the golden youth and the atmosphere is light. Let’s get nostalgic and reminisce about the wedding 25 years ago. A photographer has been invited to capture a great anniversary. What could ruin the festive atmosphere?
The photographer arrives. Drunk! Then a woman arrives who has been on very close terms with a few gentlemen celebrating their wedding anniversary. Finally, a big surprise arrives. These three upstart couples, who cherish their façade and tirelessly polish their façade for fear of the slightest scandal, are told that they are celebrating in vain. They haven’t been married for a quarter of a century. They haven’t been married at all! There is a formal error in the marriage papers!
The decency of families is therefore at risk. The upset of families and the amazing action it brings on stage contains all the seeds of laughter. All is not lost yet. Director Mikko Kivinen has got his hands on a highly skilled acting team that makes the audience, if not completely burst out laughing, feel comfortable in the audience.
Is it a stroke of luck or the worst nightmare that after 25 years of marriage, you suddenly return to the singles market? At least you have to reconsider slips such as: “If I wasn’t married, then…”
In the comedy Newlyweds, the ultimate purpose of a relationship is confused by Risto Kaskilahti, Sari Mällinen, Jari Pehkonen, Leena Uotila, Jouko Klemettilä and Tiia Louste.
The other roles are played by Antti Litja, Matti Olavi Ranin, Pia Runnakko, Sanna Saarijärvi, Lotta Vaattovaara, Sara Welling and Joachim Wigelius.