Comedy novelty Dinner with Friends provides an opportunity for the union of crying and laughter
Dinner With Friends (1998), directed by Sari Siikander, will premiere on 16 September at the Helsinki City Theatre’s studio Pasila. In Donald Margulies’ Pulizer Prize-winning comedy, the friendship and love of two couples of friends are put to the test when one of them unexpectedly announces their divorce. The couples are the amazing Ursula Salo, Risto Kaskilahti, Pihla Penttinen and Carl-Kristian Rundman.
The Pulizer Prize-winning (2000), also known as a film (2001) and now having its Finnish premiere, is Sari Siikander’s first production at the Helsinki City Theatre. The play, written by Donald Margulies, has been translated into Finnish by Aleksi Milonoff.In the comedy starring Risto Kaskilahti, Pihla Penttinen, Carl-Kristian Rundman and Ursula Salo, it is easy to recognize yourself, a couple of friends and a whole bunch of acquaintances.
“I’ve sometimes thought that all the most important things in life fit into one double bed. Spouse, children, dogs, all in the same bed – love, touch, intimacy, peace and tranquility. But in the play Dinner Among Friends , the marriage ‘al dente’ boils over, burns to the bottom and there is too much chili. Serenity is far away when marriages creak at their joints. That’s why we have two double beds in Pasila, great actors, laughter and tears – and maybe also a happy ending, because we still have two even numbers,” says director Sari Siikander.
The dinner with friends deals with the breakup of one couple in a recognizable and humorous way and offers heart-wrenching verbal fireworks. How does the divorce affect those around you? Is a relationship just a couple’s relationship or do old friends need to choose sides in a breakup? How does your marriage feel when others divorce and find new loves?
The set design of the performance is designed by Janne Siltavuori and the costumes by Elina Vättö. The lighting design is by Teppo Saarinen, and the sound designer is Eero Nieminen. The camouflage was designed by Aino Hyttinen.
Dinner among friends premiere 16.9.2020 at 7 p.m. at the Helsinki City Theatre’s studio in Pasila (Ratamestarinkatu 5)
Tickets: €17.50 – €35 (incl. pm)
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