Review: Metsä

Top theatre again in Helsinki

Traditional delicacies

Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky (1823-86), who is said to be the father of Russian drama, wrote about 50 plays. The most well-known are The Forest, Wolves and Sheep and Ukonilma.

Director Yuri Solom (b. 1935) is remembered as the explorer Arsenyev in Akira Kurosawa’s Oscar-winning Derzu Uzala (1975). The roles of Metsä are played by Finnish stars: Lasse Pöysti, Esko Roine and Asko Sarkola, among others.

The result is sophisticated, unhurried actors’ theatre. And the work cannot be faulted in any other way, as in addition to the professionals of the City Theatre, there are skilled Russian guests, set designer Aleksandr Glazunov, costume designer Aleksei Trefilov, sound guru Eradj Nazimov and composer Grirogiri Gobernik.

The visit of two rural actors (Roine and Sarkola) to the manor of another relative (Tiina Pirhonen) produces delicious scenes. Confusion arises in both human and business relationships.

A merchant (Pertti Koivula), who represents the rising middle class and buys the forest of a noble lady who lives beyond her means, would like to marry his son (Tuukka Leppänen) to a poor but beautiful cousin (Kreeta Salminen). Pöysti lifts his servant from the supporting role to the heart of the work.