Note: No longer in repertoire!

A warm-hearted and surprising love story full of French romance and freshly sparkling comedy.

The cactus flower is bubbling with French romance and freshly sparkling comedy. It is a warm-hearted and surprising love story centered on Stéphane (Satu Silvo), who turns a new page in his life. Paris in the 1960s sets the stage for this wonderful story to blossom. Middle-aged dentist Julien (Santeri Kinnunen) doesn’t want to settle down, but he doesn’t want to give up his relationship with young Antonia (Vappu Nalbantoglu) either. Julien has reasoned that he can make the equation work by lying a little bit that he has a wife and three children. Oh yes! But no. Antonia is not discouraged by the obstacles that have been piled up in the way of romance, and in the end, the dentist, softened by love and feminine means, gives in and promises to divorce his wife. However, Antonia is not satisfied with a little. He also demands to meet Julien’s wife. Julien is faced with a new problem: where can he find a wife to divorce? Stéphane, who works at Julien’s practice, is a loyal colleague who leads a meticulous life, and Julien persuades him to join the drag. The events push Stéphane to a point where the conscientious dental assistant is only a memory. The bun is shaken open, champagne glasses rattle and high heels clatter as Stéphane is freed from his former self and bursts into a new glowing bloom. The elegant and romantic comedy The Cactus Flower is also remembered as a film (1969) in which Goldie Hawn made her Oscar-worthy debut as Antonia and Ingrid Bergman was seen in the role of Stéphane. The Cactus Flower is directed by Arn-Henrik Blomqvist, whose previous Arena Stage’s production Otetaas toinen was a hit with audiences.

Arena Stage, Hämeentie 2

Cast:  Santeri Kinnunen, Satu Silvo, Vappu Nalbantoglu, Frans Isotalo, Eero Saarinen, Jouko Klemettilä, Eija Vilpas, Ilona Chevakova

 

Directed by Arn-Henrik Blomqvist

Translated by Esko Elstelä

Set design Jyrki Seppä

Costumes Riitta Anttonen-Palo

Choreography Jyrki Karttunen

Lighting design Kari Leppälä

Sound design Mauri Siirala

Make-up and hairstyles Anne Gorlewski-Leino, Taina Tervo

Performance rights are supervised by Drama Corner – Nordic Drama Corner Oy