Review: Dancer in the Dark
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Lillan’s Dancer in the dark is touching but not an anxiety bath
Jakob Höglund has once again found a musical that suits Lilla Teatern like a glove. Dancer in the dark will be a brighter and warmer experience than the movie.
I’ll confess right away: When Lars von Trier’s film Dancer in the Dark came out, I saw a complete anxiety bath in front of me and simply didn’t have the energy to expose myself to it at the time. And yes, when I finally saw the movie, it felt like being run over by a steamroller a couple of times over (plus tearing eyes).
After seeing Lilla Teatern’s production of the same story, the story of Selma who is losing her sight, I am touched and teary-eyed, but not overwhelmed by anxiety.
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Director Jakob Höglund has managed to create his own style of making especially musical theatre. This time, it feels like he’s peeling off layers and making the theatre itself visible.
Instead of enhancing the scenic with all sorts of audiovisual elements, illusions are created on stage, and we believe in them. With a few simple stage elements, the vital ensemble conjures up factories, murder scenes and trials. A lovely detail, for example, is the string lights that make us experience the presence of the train.
A new thing is that Lilla Teatern has borrowed Helsinki Dance Company for the first time, which feels natural as both are part of the Helsinki City Theatre.
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