Review: Peppi Pitkätossu
City Theatre’s Pippi Longstocking brightens up a chilly autumn evening
The play adaptation of Pippi Longstocking from 1980 was written by Staffan Götestam. Indeed, many recognizable scenes from Astrid Lingren’s books have been selected for the execution and nostalgia for adult viewers. Especially the circus scene and Pippi’s encounter with the strongman are absolutely delightful in their visuals and intensity!
Pippi Longstocking originally premiered at the City Theatre in 2015. It’s great that it’s been included in the repertoire! There are performances until 26.12., so there is still plenty of time to see the play. I would encourage adult spectators to come to the stands, both with and without children!
Here are 10 reasons why an adult should take their inner child to see Pippi:
1. The role of Pippi (and at the same time Mr. Tossavainen) alternates between Anna-Riikka Rajanen and Maija Lang. I saw Maija Lang on stage, who did a really sympathetic, sincere and sparkling edgy role. Maija also captures the sad and tragic tones of Pippi’s character nicely.
2. It’s interesting to follow the story as an adult, because you look at the character of Pippi from new perspectives. As a child, I fell in love with Pippi’s freedom and silliness, but now I also think a lot about how important a role loving and safe adults play in every child’s life.
3. Pippi’s kind-heartedness, love of animals and adventurousness pamper the mind and inspire! Pippi rejoices in the little things, feasts on her curiosity and encounters each person open-mindedly and as herself.
4. Pippi sings wonderfully! There is just the right amount of music in the play and every song seems to take flight.
5. The play is really funny! There is plenty of courtesy and silliness typical of children’s films, but not to the extent that the adult viewer would get tired. However, my companion said after the first intermission “it was fast”, so an adult should not go to see Pippi when you are really tired.
6. The direction is energizingly dynamic and fast-paced, but the atmospheric lulls have also been well utilized in the rhythm of the play. There is plenty of time for the audience to dwell on the emotional states of Pippi, Tommi and Annika, and also to reflect on the metaphorical levels of the play.
7. Riitta Röpelinen’s costumes and Markus Tsokkinen’s set design are sympathetic and colourful! The stage, which transforms from an amusement mound into a pirate ship, is visually functional and surprising. Personally, I especially liked the use of different knitted textures in both Pippi’s clothes and Huvikumpu’s interior. The starry sky and the undulating sea are also simply but elegantly executed.
8. Dramatization boldly and freshly captures Pippi’s anarchism and feministism! However, the play could have been taken more to modern times, as the color scheme is quite gendered and the butt pads don’t seem to justify themselves. The pirate disguised as a racialized look with his darkened skin and afro is also quite stale as a solution.
9. Almost all the adults in the play are deliciously caricatured and thus reveal traits and qualities of us older people that make us laugh as well as get serious. Particularly memorable is Mrs. Ryöppyvaara (Ursula Salo), who works in social services, and who has little understanding of Pippi’s different lifestyle.
10. The play leaves you with a really good feeling! Especially on a dark and rainy autumn evening like this, it is desirable and refreshing.
And let’s sniff!