Review: Rakastunut Shakespeare

TOAST TO THE THEATRE

Shakespeare in love could also be called Shakespeare for beginners – and with all due respect. If the master’s flowing, poetic text feels literary or the drama too flighty, this is a good place to start. The Helsinki City Theatre’s performance takes place in the birth of classics and behind the scenes, just like in the Oscar-winning film back in the day. There is the friendship of poets, speculation, romance, bush humour and female energy, as well as a suitably strong Shakespearean text all the time. All this in a beautiful package, well acted and put up. The young lead actors Heikki Ranta and Miila Virtanen are fresh, and the old veterans (e.g. Heidi Herala, Risto Kaskilahti, Jouko Klemettilä and Rauni Ahonen) guarantee quality. The main roles are played by drama and entertainment, theatre itself. An absolutely feel-good performance.