Review: Humiseva harju
Rough and wild rides on the Humming Ridge
Geez, sometimes you can get into a good mood in an instant. I saw the Helsinki City Theatre in the first preview of Humiseva harju and it was a blast from the first minute. Everyone knows Emily Brontë’s novel The Humming Ridge or at least a movie that has been made based on the book. Romantic nonsense or is it like that? It really isn’t. The Helsinki City Theatre’s Humming Ridge blew up a pot that honours Brontë’s work.
Mr. Earnshaw (Matti Olavi Ranin), the father of Hindley (Markku Haussila) and Cathy (Oona Airola), brings a special souvenir from one of his trips. A souvenir that terrifies children, especially Hindley. However, Cathy’s curiosity is quickly aroused. He wants to find out what kind of souvenir his sons have. This is a dark-haired, dirty and strange boy, whom Mr. Earnshaw names Heathcliff (Markus Järvenpää). A joyful relationship is formed between a girl and a boy, which deepens into love as the years progress. However, fate tends to intervene. When Cathy injures herself, she is taken into care of in Thrush Valley, where she learns the manners of a fine woman. At least externally. Edgar (Martti Manninen), a young man from Rastaslaakso, falls in love with Cathy and the young people get married. What does Heathcliff think about all this?
The humming ridge has impossibly fine performances. The energy of Oona Airola and Markus Järvenpää is breathtaking just by watching the performance. You have to be in top shape to be able to perform such roles. Leena Rapola does a big and fine job in the role of the servant Nelly. The woman is actually on stage almost all the time, but the understated servant remains in the shadows if she is not needed. However, he also has a lot to say. Rauno Ahonen as a doctor is like a grim reaper with his black eyes and clothes. Apparently, he hasn’t been needed for much more than handing out death sentences, and he shouldn’t laugh, but the character is comical.
Sometimes a man has appeared on stage as if out of nowhere, or sometimes he just walks into a scene. He is musician Mikko Helenius, who plays on various instruments. From here, we can also move naturally to the fact that the play also includes great vocal performances. Markku Hassila’s blues scene is definitely worth mentioning. It’s simply amazing. Edgar’s sister Isabella, aka Sonja Pajunoja, also gets to perform her wonderful voice. The musical scenes fit the whole play perfectly.
Director Lauri Maijala has done a skilful job. I like how he has stuck to the real events and moods of the book, although of course there were some fun modern details. Maijala has also left something out if we think about the play from the point of view of the book. Personally, I liked that solution very much. Why cram everyone into one play when the story of Cathy and Heathcliff alone is fascinating enough
The stage structure of the play is interesting. The stage structure continues far to the side of the stands, taking the middle seats of the stand all the way to row nine. I have to say that the middle seats in row ten were the best and we sat on those seats. It’s pretty wild when the actors rush down the extra stage almost into your lap. That’s where you feel like you’re part of the performance. Katariina Kirjavainen is to thank for the set design.
The Humming Ridge is an impressive work. After the performance, I was amazed at how intensely I managed to watch the three-hour performance. Of course, there was a short intermission at times, but I felt that the play sucked me in comprehensively. I empathized with the performance so completely that I would like to see video footage of my facial expressions and sitting position. It is incomprehensible how a work can be so thrilling. I have to admit that after the performance, I really went into overdrive.
Humming Harju does not indulge or create a romantic image, but is a rough and hate-filled love story. The play is definitely worth watching, but if you expect a traditional and beautiful love story, then this might not be a good choice.