Review: Ei kiitos

Helsinki City Theatre’s straightforward play makes you think.

I’ll admit right away that I’m a fan of Anna-Leena Härkönen. Whether it’s books or columns, I’ve immensely enjoyed Härkönen’s unashamedly direct, but at the same time extraordinarily insightful style. Heikki Paavilainen has dramatised the 2008 book into a play faithful to the book No Thanks, the fresh interpretation of which is directed by Mira Kivilä.

NO THANK YOUtells the story of German teacher Helinen, who does not get enough closeness from her husband. Interested in console games, the web and cat videos more than his wife, Matti is approaching middle age, and he notices that his sexual drive has disappeared. The places just ache and I’m always tired.

Correspondingly, Heli has blossomed. Her daughter, who is strongly in her teens, is on her way to adulthood, and the role of a mother has moved away from everyday life with children. Heli wants to enjoy her womanhood with Matti and can’t stand being rejected all the time.

Heli’s student, the handsome 27-year-old Jarno, who works in the film industry, steps in to shuffle the deck. Jarno, who has flashing eyes and youthful arrogance, gives Heli the attention she needs. At the same time, a tricky triangle drama tears Heli apart, who wants to be loyal to her husband and at the same time finds herself falling in love with Jarno.

HÄRKÖNEN’S TEXT still feels topical and the story carries well as a play. The all-white set creates a canvas on which the story lives and the attention is focused on the characters’ mental landscape. Each character is relatable – flesh and blood. The story, which also feels superficial and even light-hearted, relies on a certain kind of slightly melancholy undertone. Behind Heli’s coarse language, there are strong emotions, a bittersweet longing for intimacy and the passion of the early days of the relationship, insecurity and longing for the man she loves.

The simple stage created by Tuomas Lampinen, who is responsible for the set and costume design, lives with the projections and the beautifully thoughtful lighting of Teppo Saarinen, who is responsible for the lighting design. How small nuances can a place, time of day and season be seen? So elegant and effortlessly gimmickless! The story is paced by excellent visual transitions that bring a cinematic feel to the stage.

Vappu Nalbantoglu shines as Tinkerbell, and this role is not the easiest one. Powerful lines, a wide range of emotions and the bloody physicality created by choreographer Johanna Elovaara make the role challenging. Antti Timonen creates an annoying but at the same time sympathetic caricature of a Finnish man in his forties. Pyry Äikään Jarno is, above all, a believable interpretation of youthful frenzied desire and inexhaustible self-confidence. Leenamari Unho is a comedy of many characters who changes from one role to another with incredible flight. Whether it’s Heli’s outspoken bestie or the role of a bimbo tour leader, Unho makes the audience laugh in a frenzy. Aksinja Lommi, who plays Heli and Matti’s daughter, rolls onto the stage with such physicality that the branches are removed.