Review: Älä pukeudu päivälliselle

Resetting the brain through comedy

Theatre is a great way to relax. Good performances and quick plot twists take your mind off work.

Last Saturday, after a hard week at work, I was on the Arena stage of the Helsinki City Theatre with friends to watch the comedy Don’t Dress for Dinner. Even though the play was written decades ago, for some reason I hadn’t seen it before.

The play tells the story of a couple, Matti (Pertti Sveholm) and Linda (Jonna Järnefelt). Both have their secret affairs: Matti has model-actress Janita (Sanna-June Hyde) and Linda has Matti’s best man Harri (Pekka Strang). Due to coincidences, they all spend the weekend at Matti and Linda’s house. To make matters even more confusing, the caterer’s chef is also called Janita (Katja Küttner). Towards the end, the situation is confused by the husband of the chef Janita (Joachim Wigelius). These are the ingredients that make up the soup.

The casting is really apt. I’ve seen Pekka Strang in several comedies. In this role of Harri, he is in his element as an overly nice guy who has his secret, the secret affair. Pertti Sveholm is believable as a man who cheats on his wife, who imagines his own charm to be greater than he really is.

Katja Küttner is downright delicious chef Janita. It is a pleasure to watch her acting. Unbelievably wonderful throwing yourself into it. Full marks to him. I think he was the star of the play.

The role of the play’s cute, model-actress Janita, is perfect for Sanna-June Hyde.

I’ve sensed and also talked to some people that some of the people avoid comedies or even farces and prefer “quality drama” – whatever it is (?). For me, the text and good performances are important. I don’t primarily choose to watch just door-to-door farces either, unless they have delicious text and high-quality casting. Comedies work well for me when I want to completely detach myself from work so that I don’t have to analyse too much what secret message is hidden in the play. The play Don’t Dress for Dinner fulfilled this wish completely.