Review: Grönholms metod

Psychological game

The award-winning play Grönholms metod by the acclaimed Catalan author Jordi Galcerá premiered in Barcelona in 2003. The skilfully constructed and witty comedy has been performed in both Europe and Latin America with success. The play, which revolves around the tough laws and brutality of working life, will be seen in Swedish for the first time in Finland; At Lilla Teatern, directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi.

Grönholms metod is located in the meeting room of a glass-walled skyscraper in Barcelona. In modern Spain, we are at the level of set design, costumes and text. The dominant element of Ralf Forsström’s minimalist, stylish and functional set design is the Miró tapestry, people read the El Pais magazine and, above all: smoking is allowed in the meeting room.

Despite its locality, the comedy is sure to interest and amuse the Nordic audience as well. Four job applicants arrive for a job interview at the Swedish interior design and furniture group DEKIA. The interviewees seem to be ready for anything to get a high position as a sales director in a multinational company.

The interview methods are far from ordinary. Big Brother is in charge, and job seekers are drawn into a psychological game where it is difficult to know who is cheating and whom. The employer hunts for creative intelligence using the dubious Grönholm method, to say the least.
The fun and excitement are based on surprising twists and turns. The audience is dragged as well as the interviewees, so you should be wary of larger plot reveals.

Lillan’s cast, led by their director Pekka Strang, does a stylish and high-quality job. Stylish and high-quality also describe the entire performance. Grönholm’s method keeps you in control. The rhythm is controlled and the whole thing holds together nicely. The performance just doesn’t seem to refer outside itself.

However, the comedy manages to ask questions to which there are only astonishing and absurd answers. What on earth do employers demand from their employees, and what are employees willing to do to get the job they want?

EEVA KEMPPI

. Jordi Galcerán: Grönholm’s method. Translated by Jens Nordenhök. Lilla Teatern, Helsinki, directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi, set design and costumes by Ralf Forsström, lighting by Jan-Erik Pihlström, sound by Saku Korosuo. Premiere 12.1.
Published 15.1.2006 3:06:45