Review: Omaksi kuvakseen
– –
Just live
to write
to write
Helsinki City Theatre’s play Saarikoski
The champion is only at the beginning of his journey
The champion is only at the beginning of his journey
In Their Own Image, script and direction
Tuija Töyräs. Music Markus Fagerudd, set design Tina Jokitalo, cast Oskari
katajisto, Pekko Pulakka, Seppo Maijala, Eija Vilpas, Hannu Lauri, Marjatta
Raita, Riku Kemppinen, Merja Pietilä, Sanna Saarijärvi and Susa
Otter.
Tuija Töyräs. Music Markus Fagerudd, set design Tina Jokitalo, cast Oskari
katajisto, Pekko Pulakka, Seppo Maijala, Eija Vilpas, Hannu Lauri, Marjatta
Raita, Riku Kemppinen, Merja Pietilä, Sanna Saarijärvi and Susa
Otter.
Premiere in Helsinki
On the small stage of the City Theatre on 21.10.. Review 26.10.
from the proposal.
On the small stage of the City Theatre on 21.10.. Review 26.10.
from the proposal.
Pentti Saarikoski, who died in 1983, belongs to the
enduring stars of post-war Finland, and he is still an interesting and
a personality that evokes conflicting emotions.
enduring stars of post-war Finland, and he is still an interesting and
a personality that evokes conflicting emotions.
No wonder Tuija
The play written and directed by Töyräs about him has already
provokes a reasonable amount of discussion for and against. Helsinki
The City Theatre’s novelty offers an intense viewing experience for young people
to the beginning of his career as a writer, to the factors that grew into a legendary
literary master.
The play written and directed by Töyräs about him has already
provokes a reasonable amount of discussion for and against. Helsinki
The City Theatre’s novelty offers an intense viewing experience for young people
to the beginning of his career as a writer, to the factors that grew into a legendary
literary master.
The Narcissist’s Journey
into the past
into the past
The play takes place in 1962 and
Kupittaa mental hospital, where the author ended up in a violent
as a result of the crazy season. He was 25 years old and had already published some
poems. His first marriage with his childhood friend Tuula was already beginning
over.
Kupittaa mental hospital, where the author ended up in a violent
as a result of the crazy season. He was 25 years old and had already published some
poems. His first marriage with his childhood friend Tuula was already beginning
over.
The story proceeds in flashbacks, in which
Fragments of childhood and adolescence are flooded into the hospital room.
In the play, Saarikoski is in Kupittaa, as it were, observing his own
life in pictures and fights his way out of the oppressive, religious home and
sphere of influence of the church.
Fragments of childhood and adolescence are flooded into the hospital room.
In the play, Saarikoski is in Kupittaa, as it were, observing his own
life in pictures and fights his way out of the oppressive, religious home and
sphere of influence of the church.
The beginning of the play focuses especially on
Saarikoski’s dominant father. In his role, Seppo Maijala
Eija Vilpas as an anxious mother.
Their fractured relationship when their father visits visitors may be one of the reasons for the young person’s
to the writer’s plight and the pain of life.
Saarikoski’s dominant father. In his role, Seppo Maijala
Eija Vilpas as an anxious mother.
Their fractured relationship when their father visits visitors may be one of the reasons for the young person’s
to the writer’s plight and the pain of life.
Oskari Katajisto
devotion
devotion
The play occasionally offers quotes from Saarikoski’s
diaries and Pekka Tarkka’s first biography. Excellent section
the whole consists of the author’s poems, which are performed by the author of the
Oskari Katajisto with devotion and empathy
interprets.
diaries and Pekka Tarkka’s first biography. Excellent section
the whole consists of the author’s poems, which are performed by the author of the
Oskari Katajisto with devotion and empathy
interprets.
The performance of juniper in general is
a key factor in the success of the play. He dives into the
skins without that overly respectful and stagnant rigidity,
Which is in danger of falling into the trap when describing the undisputed genius of his field.
a key factor in the success of the play. He dives into the
skins without that overly respectful and stagnant rigidity,
Which is in danger of falling into the trap when describing the undisputed genius of his field.
The play does not wash
Saarikoski as some kind of squeaky, misunderstood genius. He is
who you can’t help but sympathize with from time to time, but who would also do
The mind pulls towards the sight.
Saarikoski as some kind of squeaky, misunderstood genius. He is
who you can’t help but sympathize with from time to time, but who would also do
The mind pulls towards the sight.
Music creates antiquity
Shades
Shades
From time to time, the child Saarikoski will be seen on stage,
Pekko Pulakka presents in a controlled manner. She sings with sensitivity
soprano, and with these performances a kind of holy spirit comes along,
which I would not immediately consider part of the Saarikoski
mythology.
Pekko Pulakka presents in a controlled manner. She sings with sensitivity
soprano, and with these performances a kind of holy spirit comes along,
which I would not immediately consider part of the Saarikoski
mythology.
However, the solution turns out to be in the end
like Markus Fagerudd’s music in general.
The music, which strives for the tones of antiquity and the levels of church music, supports well
– fortunately not intrusive – symbolism chosen by the director, which
are represented, among other things, by sheets of poetry swinging in the fire and the
shadow theatre.
like Markus Fagerudd’s music in general.
The music, which strives for the tones of antiquity and the levels of church music, supports well
– fortunately not intrusive – symbolism chosen by the director, which
are represented, among other things, by sheets of poetry swinging in the fire and the
shadow theatre.
The set design of the play is successful
In all its referentiality, it works in all environments.
In all its referentiality, it works in all environments.
Great love and
Muse
Muse
I would also like to highlight the actors
Sanna Saarijärvi, who plays the first wife. His
performance as the poet’s first muse impressively conveys the great
the love she felt for the author, but also the heart-wrenching
the jealousy she experienced when her husband visited.
Sanna Saarijärvi, who plays the first wife. His
performance as the poet’s first muse impressively conveys the great
the love she felt for the author, but also the heart-wrenching
the jealousy she experienced when her husband visited.
The man clung to her, on the other hand, pushed
away from him. Susa Saukko Saarikoski disturbed
as a mistress, Lennuna is quite a grotesque character, but fits well
to the author’s crazy phases.
away from him. Susa Saukko Saarikoski disturbed
as a mistress, Lennuna is quite a grotesque character, but fits well
to the author’s crazy phases.
The brave of a writer’s career
Rise
Rise
The play ends with the release of Saarikoski
from a mental hospital at the moment when the career of a diligent writer is about to start
to the actual flight that we all know. For those who don’t know
Saarikoski’s later stages very closely, the play is likely to arouse a great desire
to grab his diaries and poetry.
from a mental hospital at the moment when the career of a diligent writer is about to start
to the actual flight that we all know. For those who don’t know
Saarikoski’s later stages very closely, the play is likely to arouse a great desire
to grab his diaries and poetry.
All the same, the City Theatre’s
A commendable overview of the poet’s youth and childhood is certainly a source of
to the minds of the majority, which could be heard from the resounding applause in the sold-out auditorium
after the performance.
A commendable overview of the poet’s youth and childhood is certainly a source of
to the minds of the majority, which could be heard from the resounding applause in the sold-out auditorium
after the performance.