Review: Hildur
“Yesterday, the Helsinki City Theatre’sArena stage experienced one of the most anticipated premieres of the first half of the year, when Hildur, based on Satu Rämö’s popular detective series, premiered. The story familiar from books and television has now been adapted for the stage, and the end result is a dense, atmospheric and sometimes surprisingly entertaining theatrical experience.
Looking at the theatre, not the books
First, a confession: even though I’m a passionate reader of detective stories, I haven’t read a single Hildur book by Satu Rämö. There is a reason for this, too. I’m more fascinated by old-style detective stories, where crimes aren’t dealt with in a flashy way, as is customary in modern Nordic noir-style works. However, I don’t know if Rämö’s books really belong to this genre. So I watched the play Hildur first and foremost through the eyes of a friend of theatre and performance art.
In this respect, the play is convincing. Hildur’s visuals are stunning to look at, and the performance credibly transports the viewer to Iceland’s barren, but at the same time beautiful ground. The set design, lighting and use of effects have been carefully thought out: the stage features both an amazingly realistic avalanche and a sea voyage, which support the narrative without stealing attention from the acting itself.
The use of sound effects is particularly successful. They support the actual narrative excellently and build both suspense and, at times, an atmospheric, even calm rhythm. Sound is not just a background, but an essential part of stage expression.
Icelandic crime mystery on stage
Hildur is set in the West Fjords of Iceland, where detective Hildur Rúnarsdóttir works as a local police officer and, in addition to solving minor problems, murders that have deep roots in the past.
The theatrical version builds suspense calmly and relies more on the atmosphere than on quick turns. The intimate space of the Arena stage supports this approach and brings the events close to the viewer.
Comedic moments surprise
Perhaps the biggest positive surprise is the occasional but functional comedy of the performance. Jakob (Paavo Kinnunen), who is seen as a Finnish police colleague, is a sympathetically funny character. Male police officers are rarely given and especially shown the following qualities: fear of flying, motion sickness, knitting Icelandic sweaters, and that is exactly why the role feels fresh and humane.
Also exhilarating is the monologue of one of the murdered, slimy lawyers, in which the character says that he teases younger women with uninhibited confidence. The scene brings black humour to the performance and lightens the otherwise serious whole at just the right moment.
Fast forward to Hildur’s world
Even if you are not familiar with the Hildur books, the performance at the Helsinki City Theatre serves as an excellent introduction to the world of the story. Over the course of about two and a half hours, the viewer gets a kind of fast-forward to Hildur’s life, work and key relationships. The theatre condenses the extensive narrative into a form that is easily approachable even for first-timers.
Hildur brings the cold of Iceland, the harshness of the landscapes and the weight of crime close to the viewer in a way that can be felt all the way to the audience. The performance arouses interest, and perhaps even a desire to grab the books or follow the story forward in other forms.
One of the most talked-about premieres of the year
20,000 tickets have been sold in advance for the play Hildur, which indicates the exceptional interest aroused by the work. However, viewers will not only get a familiar story in a new form, but a comprehensive theatrical experience in which crime mystery, visuality and acting go hand in hand.
The intimacy, thoughtful effects and soundscape of the Arena stage make the experience experiential without excess. Hildur doesn’t offer easy answers, but it offers an experience that will be remembered and spark discussion even after the performance.”
Read the review with pictures here.