Review: En blick är en blick är en blick

Lightness and depth in study of the power of the gaze

“A look is a look is a look” is an accurate study of the power of the gaze in our lives.

What happens to our self-image when the power of the gaze increases? This is the question asked by the working group in the performance’s information material. The question feels extremely relevant in relation to how we behave, for example, on social media. We present the most advantageous image of ourselves and leave out the ugly and mundane – so great is our desire for others to see us as successful.

A look is a look is a look is a collaboration between Lilla Teatern, Young Drama and students at the Theatre Academy’s Swedish programme. The director is Milja Sarkola and Jessica Grabowsky.

In many of her previous performances, Sarkola has touched on roles and authenticity – the inner voice we all have within us, what we think but don’t say. Perhaps it is precisely the inner voice we want to access when we try to interpret other people’s gazes and what they think of us.

In the performance, the gaze is interpreted from three different perspectives: the gaze of a loved one, the gaze of an acquaintance and the gaze of a public figure. The young actors portray many well-known historical and living figures, ranging from Princess Diana (Oksana Lommi), and Jesus (Emilia Jansson) to cultural personality Gertrude Stein (Herman Nyby) and American comedian Bill Burr (Antti Saarikallio). The performances are accurate, not forgetting the humour.

However, the family perspective appeals to me the most. Emelie Zilliacus plays the mother who expresses her dissatisfaction with her daughter’s appearance in a way that touches. Parents and children’s eyes on each other are charged, we are most vulnerable to our loved ones.

The performance is close to both lightness and depth, and the end result shows that the work process has been interesting and rewarding. The rich and colourful set design by Antti Mattila provides a nice setting for the warm interplay on stage.