Review: Katto-Kassinen
Kassinen is good for the heart
The Swedish psychologist and psychotherapist Elisabeth Cleve has said that the author Astrid Lindgren has helped children of different generations in difficult situations more than any other author. The characters she creates become friends and companions of children who read stories. For Astrid’s children, no situation is so difficult that they can’t handle it. They can do anything and create hope around them. It has a healing effect on children who are having a hard time. It also gives energy to others.
Katto Kassinen is one of these characters: a confident dude who lives on the ceilings in his excitingly messy apartment, does what he wants and declares without batting an eye that he is the best Kassinen in the world, that he lives in the best house in the world, and that he is the best prankster and certainly just the right fat man.
In addition, Kassinen knows what adults dream of: He knows how to fly and rise above petty rules and conventions. He applies good manners without inhibition and is self-centered and greedy. For me, the best and the most! However, deep down, she longs for a safe mother who would command and tap as a mother should.
Rules can be broken
Based on the premiere, Helsinki City Theatre’s new Katto Kassinenis pure mental therapy. Especially for little boys, it should give joy, energy and confidence. The children commented on the events on stage without inhibition, and already during the intermission, the first little Kassinen was seen in the lobby taking flying laps with his arms wide open.
Staffan Götestamin In Lindgren’s play based on the book, adults are seen from the child’s point of view. The father (Matti Rasila) is busy and consistent, the mother (Aino Seppo) secretly caresses the Little Brother (Antti Lang) and understands his longing for the dog, the adolescent Big Brother (Antti Timonen) irritates unbearably and starves as much as she can, the sister (Tiina Peltonen) glows with her first crush and prefers not to see the Little Brother at all during the delicate moment.
When Katto-Kassinen (Sami Hokkanen) turns into the world of Little Brother, who feels mistreated, everything changes: Little Brother goes on an adventure, learns that rules are made to be broken, and that there is nothing as fun as shooting down stupid things. Two robbers, Vilho (Matti Rasila) and Kolho (Juha Jokela), as well as Miss Pässi (Risto Kaskilahti), who has been hired as a babysitter, are involved in a special spin.
Acrobatics and speed
The roles of Robbers, Kassinen and Pässi require acrobatic skills and quick legs. Kassinen and Pässi are also delicious guys. The latter has dimensions, some of which remain glimpses. For example, the rhythmic meatball frying was fun to watch. Humour is probably the kind that makes 4–10-year-olds laugh the most.
Katto-Kassinen skillfully uses music, and the style ranges from calm melodies to wild rap. The Finnish translation of Eppu and Kurt Nuotio and the Finnish lyrics of Ilpo Tiihonen’s songs are skillful. You could also hear the lyrics of most of the songs.
Katariina Kirjavainen’s set design moves nicely above and on the rooftops, and the Cathedral with its domes is also in place. I’ve never seen a flying dog in the theatre before – on my lap, though.
The applause was wild and if my ears didn’t fail, a group of children shouted “I like, like, like” and clapped their hands. And the momentum continued until the end: The actors came to the final bows dancing as the characters. It secured the joyful illusion until the last moments.