Review: Kuninkaan puhe

I speak, that is, I lead!

It’s a big job to become the king of England if you’re a kid
ridiculed for stuttering and punished for being left-handed. The acclaimed, Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech is now seen in a stage version. The performance lives up to the expectations created by the film. Of course, we don’t get as close to the pain of George VI as the cameras can, and the image of the turbulent 1930s is not as authentic, but the story works and touches. Kari Heiskanen’s direction progresses at a tight tempo, and the story, which relies on the relationship between the king and his speech teacher, carries on the big stage. Carl-Kristian Rundman is an excellent choice as the sensitive Bertie and Pertti Sveholm as his bold speech teacher. Sari Salmela’s costumes ooze style.