Inspector Palmu and his entourage swing on the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre
Mika Waltari’s (1908 – 1979) beloved novel character, the iconic Inspector Palmu, familiar from Matti Kassila’s films, now rises to the country’s largest theatre stage, directed by Heikki Kujanpää and wonderfully interpreted by veteran actor Kari Väänänen . Gas, Inspector Palmu! will premiere on the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre on 29 November.
Joel Elstelä’s dramatised comedy crime thriller Kaasua, Inspector Palmu! brings the famous inspector to the HKT stage for the second time at the request of the audience. The previous one, Inspector Palmu’s mistake , was seen two years ago on the Arena stage.
This time, Palmu and his detectives investigate the case of a rich widow who died of gas poisoning in an apartment building in Helsinki. Who has entered the apartment through the balcony and turned on the gas tap of the kitchen stove while Mrs. Skrof was sleeping? Clues and solutions follow one another, and new surprising murder candidates are discovered as the investigation progresses.
In his directing, Heikki Kujanpää has not wanted to break the delicious characters in Matti Kassila’s award-winning film, which is based on Mika Waltari’s novel.
“Viewers must be offered more than just the joy of rediscovering people. The performance must charm with its hilarity. We rely on cheeky play and stylish swing. I’m delighted to be able to brainstorm the soundscape of the performance again in collaboration with composer Timo Hietala ,” Kujanpää says.
The music and rich soundscape composed for the performance by Timo Hietala, known for his numerous film compositions, play a central role in the Kaasua komisario Palmu! performance.
“On stage, we will see a five-piece, black-and-white, film noir-type crime jazz band consisting of Finland’s best jazz musicians. While the band often plays in the theatre somewhere hidden, now the audience can watch top musicians at work live! They improvise and make ‘foleys’ in flashbacks depicting a criminal investigation, i.e. the sounds of footsteps, rattles and clatters, which are dubbed into films afterwards. And the audience will also get to hear the wonderful singing of the play’s top jazz singer Iiri Salmia (Vuokko Hovatta)!”, Hietala enthuses.
In addition to Kari Väänänen, who plays the role of the iconic Palmu, the roles of detective Kokki and Virta are played by Petrus Kähkönen and Heikki Ranta, known from the musical Kinky Boots. The other roles are played by Miiko Toiviainen, Tuukka Leppänen, Sara Paasikoski, Jouko Klemettilä, Vuokko Hovatta, Eero Saarinen, Kari Mattila, Kaisa Torkkel, Kai Lähdesmäki and Kirsi Karlenius. The live jazz band consists of Joakim Berghäll, Jori Huhtala, Mikko Karjalainen, Panu Savolainen and Tuomas Timonen.
Toni Haaranen’s projections create a snapshot of Helsinki in the 1940s on stage. The set design was designed by Pekka Korpiniitty and the costumes by Elina Kolehmainen. The choreography is by Kaisa Torkkel and the make-up and hairstyles are designed by Tuula Kuittinen. The lighting design of the performance is by Petteri Heiskanen and the sound design by Janne Brelih.
Gas, Inspector Palmu! premiere 29.11.2018 on the big stage of the Helsinki City Theatre
19,50 € – 49 € (includes PM)