Review: Jerusalem

Helsinki City Theatre’s Jerusalem

The Helsinki City Theatre’s Jerusalem startles, amazes and delights. There is a large red St. George’s cross on the stage, and an angel-winged fairy emerges from its shade, singing the Jerusalem hymn. A play written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Pasi Lampela , which premiered in London in 2009 and is classified as a modern classic, is about to begin.

After a delicate moment at the beginning, quite a lot of action begins on stage. After the end of his career, Johnny “Rooster” Byron (Santeri Kinnunen), the former killer Johnny “Rooster” Byron has camped out next to a rural village, in his own forest, actually owned by the municipality. The municipality wants to build luxury apartments in the area, and Byron has received one order after another to move.

The dilapidated and cluttered yard attracts teenagers in the area, in particular. There is alcohol, drugs, great parties and Byron’s wild stories. Also lying in the courtyard are a wannabe DJ (Markus Järvenpää) and a professor suffering from a memory disorder (Joachim Wigelius). From time to time, Byron is also joined by a pub owner (Jouko Klemettilä).

The play celebrates St. George’s Day, which is a major event in the life of the region. Despite the holiday, the authorities are attacking Byron. It does not startle her day in any way – quite the opposite. A glimpse of the significance of the holiday is brought to the stage by Jouko Klemettilä in his festive costume and dance, which the young people force him to do.

In Helsingin Sanomat (2.2.2024), Laura Kytölä thinks that Santeri Kinnunen will do a brilliant role in Jerusalem , perhaps the best of his career. It’s easy to agree. Kinnunen is at the same time rough, self-confident, but a lovable person who goes his own way.

The play contains plenty of references to the worlds of myths and literary quotations. Even if you can’t catch them, it doesn’t interfere with watching. The end of the performance was amazing when the trees tore themselves from their roots and started dancing. The great legends and stories are not dead yet.