Review: Poika ja Tähti

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“It’s fine now,” sighed the little spectator

Helsinki City Theatre’s The Boy and the Star is enchanting theatre for the whole family

The Boy and the Star. Based on the book by Barbro Lindgren, written and directed by Peter Engkvist. Helsinki City Theatre, foyer of a small stage. Translated by Anneli Mäkelä, music by Ulf Eriksson, set design and costumes by Katariina Kirjavainen, lighting by Juhani Leppänen, cast: Sami Uotila and Reetta Honkakoski.

 "It’s fine now," sighed the little spectator girl, as the boy Pepe and his horse Tähti find each other again at the other end of the complicated divorce story.
     That’s how you knew that everything was really fine, absolutely everything. Helsinki City Theatre’s children’s novelty The Boy and the Star is energetic, fun and exciting children’s theatre. And when it clearly does its best on all levels, it is not only good children’s theatre but also good theatre in general.
     The minimum age is four years. I would say that there is no upper age limit. Directed by Peter Engkvist , the performance is a pleasure to enjoy, regardless of the age of the audience.
     
The play is based on Barbro Lindgren’s children’s book, which the renowned Swedish director himself has written as a play. The result is more of a theatrical story than a drama, but that’s okay.
     The abundance of the boy, his horse, wolves, ravens, whales, hares, a whole circus and its artists and all the stars in the sky works very well and takes you away.
     The plot is also about the fierce leader of the circus, who falls in love with the horse Tähti and sends him on his way. This is where the divorce adventure begins, but of course it has a happy ending. An hour later, everything is "fine". And the viewer has a drop in their eye for their happiness.
     
Never has the foyer of the City Theatre’s small stage been used for performances as luckily as in the case of The Boy and the Star .
     Katariina Kirjavainen has staged a basic stage that adapts sensitively and precisely to the space, with excellent multifunctional poses and adventure equipment that can be found anywhere. Juhani Leppänen illuminates the space in a caressing way. The starry sky is so beautiful, so beautiful.
      Ulf Eriksson’s stage music is also beautiful, with its catchy melodies and diverse parts.
     
Perhaps the best and most decisive thing of all is that Peter Engkvist and his actors have found each other nicely and created a common goal that does not compromise on anything.
     Engkvist has demanded almost enormous amounts of joy in the spirit of his own and seemingly limitless fantasy: joy, warmth, musicality, acrobatic skills and lightning-fast role changes.
     Everything works.
     Sami Uotila and Reetta Honkakoski are charming and know everything, Honkakoski even the skills of playing the mini trumpet. The cavalcade of their dozens of roles is beyond reproach.
     Most importantly, their stage work in relation to the child audience is on the one hand sunny and uncomplicated, but also appreciative all the time. That appreciation means full presence, full discipline, the best possible acting.
     
On top of that, they are charismatic performers. It is also a pleasure to watch The Boy and the Star through them, and the City Theatre’s family theatre department can be proud of its novelty.