Review: Kenraali ja Casanova

Fascinating Spa Date with General and Casanova @HKT

The story, which is based on real events, is amazing. When two aging men of the world meet in the 1790s at the Bohemian spa of Teplitz, both have seen more glorious times. Testosterone no longer bursts, but still bursts as inspiration for deep conversations.

The other is Georg Magnus Sprengtporten (1740-1819), a general who is haunted by the idea of Finnish independence, and who has turned his back on King Gustav III of Sweden and allied himself with Catherine II the Great of Russia. Events on the battlefields did not go as planned, and now Catherine is not particularly interested in Sprengtporten’s services either. In Sweden, on the other hand, the death penalty for treason awaits. The general ponders his options in the spa, primarily influenced by the fate of his native Finland, or whether his own place in the grip of power.

The other gentleman is 15 years older and familiar in all major European circles. We associate Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) only as a master of love, but his life is an incredible adventure in the fields of science, art and politics. He was a superstar of his time, hanging out with Mozart, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, the Pope and also Catherine the Great, among others. We meet Casanova as a bookkeeper at Dux Castle near the baths of Teplitz, where he lives on the graces of Count Waldstein and writes his memoirs.

These fascinating gentlemen were brought to the Pengerkatu stage of the Helsinki City Theatre by Pasi Lampela, who wrote and directed an intimate play. But no, this is not just a discussion of topical and philosophical topics by widely educated historical figures, but they are scratched off the shell of fame and their human fears and dreams are exposed. The gentlemen are mirrored by supporting characters that fit the picture of the time, a wonderfully built progressive French woman, the Marquise de Bois, the magician Götz, the woman of all services Elena and Fredrik, the male servant of Sprengtporten.

In the treatment of skilled actors, the historical story grows into a timeless interpreter of deep emotions. If Casanova really was anywhere near as fascinating as Pekka Laiho in his role, then I am not at all surprised at his popularity! Laiho’s Casanova is intensely present for both Sprengtporten and the Marquise. He is brutally honest about himself and does not try to ride on his past reputation, even though a few anecdotes come loose in an aside. Pekka Laiho is the light of the stage, he breathes life into the subtle and intense Casanova!

Santeri Kinnunen as Sprengtporten is interesting. According to the script, Sprengtporten was a horror brat of his time, but Kinnunen’s interpretation is more of a somewhat simplistic alpha male, a lonely man who, according to his words, has never been happy. Kinnunen’s Sprengtporten stands confusedly on the stage when the floor shifts to the Marquise De Bois, played by Saija Lentonen, who is a gorgeous, civilized and independent, divorced woman. A really excellent move from Lampela to create tension with the help of the Marquise. Leinonen is beautiful and noble, and the further the role progresses, the deeper her interpretation of the Marquise becomes. The awkwardness of the beginning eases and even in the audience you can see through the role of the Marquise. Of course, Casanova has seen from the beginning, Sprengtporten does not see at all.

In supporting roles, Jouko Klemettilä is a brilliant magician as Götz. The character is terrible and funny, Klemettilä swings at the limits just elegantly. “In the hands of a worse actor, the role would have required some embarrassment,” said the daughter, who is a theatre enthusiast. Sanna-June Hyde is allowed to symbolize the free vices of the era as Colombina and herself. It was interesting to notice how shocking the thick tufts of armpit hair looked on a picture-perfect woman. Rauno Ahonen with his personal voice was also a man in his place.

A fine and multidimensional intellectual gem, but there were only a handful of people in the stands on Friday night. I warmly recommend it to anyone who likes history, spoken word dramas and the wonder of life. As the daughter said: “In London, this would be a hit!”