Review: Kiviä taskussa
Joy on the surface, stones in the pocket
Mika Nuojua and Martti Suosalo conquered Studio Pasila at the premiere
Marie Jones: Stones in Your Pocket. Helsinki City Theatre, Studio Pasila. Finnish translation by Henri Kapulainen, directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi, set design and costumes by Jyrki Seppä, backing by Markku Kunnari, choreography by Tuovi Rantanen, lighting by Teppo Saarinen, sound by Ari-Pekka Saarikko. Cast: Mika Nuojua and Martti Suosalo.
The new Studio Pasila at the Helsinki City Theatre can be predicted to have a long life and sold-out performances. They are edible and captivating, Mika Nuojua and Martti Suosalo when interpreting Irish Marie Jones ‘ successful play Stones in Your Pocket, its many roles for two men and with scant external aids, full energy and
with luminous intensity. It’s all about the actor’s abilities and fractions of a second, like driving formulas. Henri Kapulainen’s succulently diverse and multi-dialect translation is mastered like nothing.
Stones in the Pocket has already been performed once and noted as excellent in Helsinki, at the Swedish Theatre under the name Stenar i fickan.
The play is about Irish pride and patriotism growing into the story. It is a question of a martyr whose impoverished conditions drive him to suicide. The childhood friend of the other protagonist fills his pockets with stones and drowns.
It is a question of all those small people whose lives and values are not respected by the power of the great. All this is told by Stones in Your Pocket as a tapestry of articulate comedy and striking tragedy. It’s rare to have this much fun in the theatre.
The authenticity of emotions is crucial, as is the ability to find enough distinguishing and descriptive features in the litany of the types. You have to believe and know. In both areas, the interpretation directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi is a celebration of theatre.
Perhaps the performance was still looking for its rhythmic finish at its premiere. A slight uncertainty in remembering was also observed. Besides, the play has a happy ending. After surviving both Hollywood and the funeral, the friends of the play begin to plan the film. There will be a lot of cows and big udders on the screen. Wonderful!
The set design is simple and elegant. Jyrki Seppä has made the stage the front of the cinema’s screen. Behind the red curtain, stunning green mounds surrounded by fog are revealed. The background font created by Markku Kunnari locates and the empty front space with its loading boxes and clothes racks allows the actors to rush from one role to another.
Martti Suosalo and Mika Nuojua are completely irresistible as they get carried away with Tuovi Rantanen’s insanely funny and excellently crafted Riverdance parody. The female characters made by both of them are also great.
In the words of my companion: when theatre is wonderful, it is the most wonderful of all arts. Such a performance is Studio Pasila’s novelty.