Review: Peppi Pitkätossu
Pippi Longstocking – Helsinki City Theatre
Pippi Longstocking was funny. I went to the theatre with my little dude, because it’s a good excuse to go and see “children’s” plays, but I was genuinely interested in this. The large stage of the Helsinki City Theatre was utilised and the whole was spectacular. Enthusiastic little voices echoed in the hall throughout the performance.
Helsinki City Theatre’s Pippi Longstocking premiered at the beginning of 2015 and has been drawing audiences ever since. Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi character is one of the most iconic cases in children’s literature. This exudes pure anarchy, which, in its benevolence, is nevertheless in a way endearing.
Maija Lang, who wore Pippi’s red braids, brought this anarchy to the stage in a colourful way. Lang took over his role cheerfully and very physically. The unbridled pace was maintained until the end of the performance and helped keep even the smallest spectators on the edge of their seats.
Similarly, Pippi’s friends Tommi and Annika, played by Petrus Kähkönen and Raili Raitala, get to cheer throughout the performance. Huvikumpu is roaring when these three actors take the wind and the rhythm of the performance is breathtaking. The small audience reacts strongly to every turn and sometimes even shouts comments on stage. It doesn’t matter, because the atmosphere is really light and immediate.
My own little dude was in two minds about going to the theatre. After all, he is already 10 years old and therefore thinks he is too old for “brat plays”. However, the big, exciting theatre house made an immediate impression and when he saw Huvikumpu, the guy was visibly involved in the play.
Sometimes it’s fun to immerse yourself in a play that shoots at full speed and embraces you with pure spectacle. In Markus Tsokkinen’s set design, everything was big. Even the amusement mound looks like a life-size house and becomes more and more colourful as the performance progresses.
When the whole ensemble arrives on stage and the singing is loud, you remember how simple ingredients a good theatre can be made of. The theatre and literature I have consumed myself have lately been on quite serious topics, and Pippi Longstocking is just the right medicine to remind us of the existence of colours in the world.
More information about the play can be found on the Helsinki City Theatre website here. The age recommendation is 5 years and a couple of seizures younger than that may be frightened. Otherwise, it is really suitable for all ages and there are a lot of things in the play that entertain both children and adults.