Arthur Miller’s timeless family drama asks the price of life’s choices

Arthur Miller’s timeless and touching family drama The Price (1968) will premiere on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre on 1 February. The play, translated into Finnish by Aleksi Milonoff, is directed by Paavo Westerberg. The roles are played by a wonderful quartet, Eero Aho, Santeri Kinnunen, Esko Salminen and Aino Seppo.

After a break of years, brothers Victor and Walter meet next to their deceased father’s estate in the attic of a house that is being demolished. The estate has been summoned by the elderly antique dealer Solomon, whose last big gig this will be. When negotiating the price of goods, painful choices from the past and the dynamics of the entire childhood family are also discussed, which is based on the crisis and shame caused by the stock market crash of 1929. Is there more left of the family’s shared past than just stuff?

“The way in which Miller focuses on people and the world around them, the Western way of life, is terribly fresh, precise and recognizable. What price do we pay for certain of our choices? In the end, what the brothers in the play thirst for is love,” says director Paavo Westerberg.

The Price, starring top actors, has been of great interest to the audience. Almost 75 per cent of the tickets for the spring performances have already been sold and reserved.

The set and costumes were designed by Antti Mattila. The lighting design is by Kalle Ropponen and the sound design by Aleksi Saura. The camouflage and hairstyles were designed by Tuula Kuittinen.

Paavo Westerberg, who makes his directorial debut at the Helsinki City Theatre, is an award-winning film scriptwriter, theatre and film director, and playwright. Westerberg’s most recent works include the play Next 500 Years (2017) for the Espoo City Theatre, which he wrote and directed, and the film Fiddler, which premiered in January 2018 and is his first feature film directorial work.

Westerberg is one of the home writers of the Finnish National Theatre. In addition to his own plays, he has directed several interpretations of classics, most recently Uncle Vanya (Finnish National Theatre, 2014) and The Death of a Merchant (Oulu City Theatre, 2013).

Price premiere 1.2.2018 at 7 pm on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5).
Tickets: €19.50 – €39 (incl. pm)