Review: Katri Helena
A captivating musical about the fixed star of the schlager sky
The autumn of the Helsinki City Theatre’s main stage started with Katri-Helena
musical. Ilpo Tuomarila has written a script based on Katri-Helena’s songs, popular songs loved by the Finnish people, of which the musical features more than twenty different characters. Evergreen hits tie together the life story of an artist who has had a dazzling career, starting from his childhood in Tohmajärvi and ending up as a singing icon for the whole nation.
The musical Katri Helena is fiction based on real events. Ilpo Tuomarila received newspaper articles from Katri-Helena for almost fifty years for the manuscript. The script also included the previously secret information that Katri-Helena’s first husband threatened her with a gun in a fit of jealousy.
The musical about Katri-Helena is, above all, strongly entertaining. In less than three hours, the singer’s multifaceted life is discussed, but this is not a documentary. The singer’s decades-long career and life include both highlights and drama that includes pain. Although the musical is very touching in places, the viewer does not feel anxious after the performance, but the main thought is an absolutely wonderfully executed and entertaining theatrical experience.
The musical is directed by Tiina Brännare, who also designed the spectacular choreographies. Brännare has already shown that he is one of the sharpest Finnish directors and choreographers. Katri-Helena The musical conveys to the viewer that the director has internalized the subject matter and found the common thread that takes the performance to a high level. The characters have authentic taste and the dances are rehearsed to the end with spectacular choreographies.
Katri Helena is played by Sanna Majuri, who plays perhaps the most brilliant role of her career so far. The songs flow wonderfully and “Katri-like”, and she has also found out quite carefully about Katri-Helena’s mannerisms, and brings them out well down to the smallest nuances.
In addition to Sanna Majuri, the key roles are played by Sinikka Sokka as Katri’s mother, Lasse Pajunen as her father, Sami Hokkanen as her husband Timppa, Sari Siikander as journalist Suni who follows Katri’s career, Kari Arffman as Danny and as a professor. Other roles include Heikki Sankari, Miikka Tuominen, Valtteri Tuominen, Katja Aakkula and Eija Vilpas. All of the above are an important part of a successful whole.
On stage, you will see a singing dance group of 14 people, who will amaze with their skill. The swinging music is provided by a 12-piece orchestra conducted by Lasse Hirvi.
The musical, which draws inspiration from the beautiful Finnish landscape with its birches, lakes and smoke saunas, is set by Katariina Kirjavainen, and the stylish costumes that change over the decades are designed by Matti Seppänen, a pioneer of industrial clothing design. The lighting design of the musical, which includes more than forty different stage images, is by Kari Leppälä. The sound designers are Kirsi Peteri and Jyrki Sandell.