Review: Omatunto

Bohemian life in Ahola

Nowadays, it is rare in the theatre to get the most profound artistic pleasures and the best laughs from a chamber play, and even from an epoch. Now there is a surprising opportunity to do so, which is worth taking advantage of.

Lauri Sipari has written the play Conscience about the triangle drama between the writer Juhani Aho, his wife, the artist Venny Soldan-Brofeldt and his wife’s sister Tilly . Directed by Laura Jäntti , the meticulously rhythmic and tingling performance takes place on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre.

Santeri Kinnunen, Ursula Salo and Lotta Lindroos work seamlessly together in the main roles of the play and masterfully perform in the difficult middle ground between very realistic acting and playing with emotional states. Costume designer Sari Salmela and set designer Sampo Pyhälä are responsible for the successful stage aesthetics.

The play takes place between 1891 and 1937. The moments of Finland’s fate also tear individuals when Aho’s son Heikki (the excellent Iikka Forss), who has become conservative over time, chooses socialism.

Ari Lahdenmäki’s spending recommendation in Oma Aika magazine 1/2013