Review: Henki
– –
elementary school teacher Margaret Edson arouses sympathy not only
with his debut play Henki (1995), also with his announcement that he will not do the following
LAURI MERI
An eternal path of study
Atlantaelementary school teacher Margaret Edson arouses sympathy not only
with his debut play Henki (1995), also with his announcement that he will not do the following
before there is anything weighty to say.
In terms of topic, there is not much to the Spirit
To be added. Edson describes the experiences of literary scholar Vivian Bearing
as a research patient in the cancer ward of the University Hospital. From its strict starting point
Despite this, the play is not just a story of illness, but it skilfully grows out of it
a philosophical suspense play.
To be added. Edson describes the experiences of literary scholar Vivian Bearing
as a research patient in the cancer ward of the University Hospital. From its strict starting point
Despite this, the play is not just a story of illness, but it skilfully grows out of it
a philosophical suspense play.
An efficient hospital milieu and a new
in his role as a helpless professor Bearing form the two worlds of the play,
whose collision is also described with humour. Bering Specialty,
the sacred sonnets of the Renaissance poet John Donne ,
its own color. Bearing tells how he was deceived by the different editions of the poems
at first, until he learned that the original Donne has the word death after him
a comma, light as a breath, no melodramatic exclamation mark. Ovarian cancer
leads the professor to a situation where there is no longer such a situation when it comes to melodrama
accurate. The exclamation mark has its own moment.
in his role as a helpless professor Bearing form the two worlds of the play,
whose collision is also described with humour. Bering Specialty,
the sacred sonnets of the Renaissance poet John Donne ,
its own color. Bearing tells how he was deceived by the different editions of the poems
at first, until he learned that the original Donne has the word death after him
a comma, light as a breath, no melodramatic exclamation mark. Ovarian cancer
leads the professor to a situation where there is no longer such a situation when it comes to melodrama
accurate. The exclamation mark has its own moment.
Every viewer will find a play
multi-layeredness, which can be very sensitive.
Layering may not open up new perspectives on a difficult topic, but the
Flexibility makes it easier to face emotions. A play that does good was awarded
Pulitzer in 1999.
multi-layeredness, which can be very sensitive.
Layering may not open up new perspectives on a difficult topic, but the
Flexibility makes it easier to face emotions. A play that does good was awarded
Pulitzer in 1999.
Miitta Sorvali
devotees the difficult role of Bearing. His phenomenal
its ability to transform maintains the rapid rhythm of the performance.
devotees the difficult role of Bearing. His phenomenal
its ability to transform maintains the rapid rhythm of the performance.
Professor Bearing is up against
efficient assistant physician Posner, played by Kristo Salminen
makes his serious drama breakthrough. An ambitious doctor remembers
professor from the time when he started to build his CV and chose
the most demanding courses at the university. The new encounter does not only set Bearing
but also makes research material about him/her.
efficient assistant physician Posner, played by Kristo Salminen
makes his serious drama breakthrough. An ambitious doctor remembers
professor from the time when he started to build his CV and chose
the most demanding courses at the university. The new encounter does not only set Bearing
but also makes research material about him/her.
The strong tensions in the play are balanced by
nurses’ everyday work, and especially Petriikka Pohjanheimo’s
calming appearance. He can be considered a kind of audience
as a personal nurse.
nurses’ everyday work, and especially Petriikka Pohjanheimo’s
calming appearance. He can be considered a kind of audience
as a personal nurse.
Eeva-Liisa Haimelin
plays Professor Emerita Ashford, who rises from his memories, and whose clear
have boosted Bearing’s career and life.
plays Professor Emerita Ashford, who rises from his memories, and whose clear
have boosted Bearing’s career and life.
So what is sympathetic about this?
Under Milko Lehto’s direction, the viewer feels that everything has
thought of him. It helps to accept the angular ending of the play. The end is just
technical solution – in the face of the unsolvable.
Under Milko Lehto’s direction, the viewer feels that everything has
thought of him. It helps to accept the angular ending of the play. The end is just
technical solution – in the face of the unsolvable.
LAURI MERI
SUOMEN KUVALEHTI 12.4.2001
Helsinki City Theatre: Spirit.
Directed by Milko Lehto
Costumes Maija Pekkanen
Set design Oskari Torvinen
Lighting design Mika Ijäs
Cast: Miitta Sorvali, Hannu Lauri, Kristo
Salminen and Petriikka Pohjanheimo.
Salminen and Petriikka Pohjanheimo.