Review: Lastenkutsut

Children’s parties would like to see more publicity

Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen (Social Democratic Party) praises the play Children’s Party.

“I would like it to get more publicity,” Lipponen said after yesterday’s premiere.

The play, written by Paavo Haavikko, elicited resounding laughter from the Prime Minister sitting in the front row on several occasions.
Despite its name, it is not a children’s party organised by President Urho Kekkonen. The topic revolves around Kekkonen’s 100th birthday. In addition to Lipponen, Kekkonen, the hero of the day, is also congratulated by President Mauno Koivisto (Antti Litja) with his rapid-fire rifle and President Tarja Halonen (Leena Uotila) with sparkling wine.

Analysis of power

Tamminiemi’s keeper is Anita Hallama (Miitta Sorvali) and the adjutant (Mika Nuojua) and the chief of protocol Matts Pellinge (Asko Sarkola) are also involved

“It went to the heart of the matter, the analysis of power. There was clearly a desire for the undivided power of the president.
According to Lipponen, the character, especially Heikki Nousiainen’s Kekkonen, were good.

In the Prime Minister’s opinion, Mikko Kivinen, who plays Lipponen in the play, had created an image of him that “is probably very close to the image that has been made of me in public.”

What is the truth?

The play examines the rift between Kekkonen and Koivisto in the spring of 1981 and examines how Lipponen’s and Halonen’s cooperation in foreign policy decision-making under the new constitution works in practice.

“I’m going to take a closer look at what really happened in the spring of 1981. There are many pieces in it. Someone who wasn’t there at the time has to put them together. I was a witness at the time, but in practice I was on Koivisto’s side.

According to Lipponen, the current cooperation between the president and the prime minister is going well.