The brand new Finnish Comeback – Splashes in the Rap brings a farce to this millennium

On 30 January, the Arena stage of the Helsinki City Theatre will premiere COMEBACK – Rapping Splashes, written by Sakari Hokkanen. The stage will feature top comedy professionals Peter Kanerva, Minna Koskela, Janna Räsänen, Sauli Suonpää and Eija Vilpas.

Written and directed by Sakari Hokkanen, the new film tells the story of rapper Biiffi, aka Pasi Tuominen (Peter Kanerva), who is preparing for a sold-out comeback concert at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The support team in the suite of the city’s finest hotel, Campi, at Biiffi is Finnish rap veteran Mela (Sauli Suonpää) and manager Taina Kovanen (Minna Koskela). The pressure for a comeback is immense and Taina has a full job to keep the rappers in concert shape. The farcical plot twists gain momentum when the overzealous piccolo turns out to be the YouTuber MC Räpätädi (Janna Räsänen), Biiffi’s grandma (Eija Vilpas) arrives at the completely wrong time, and in the end, the whole comeback is in jeopardy.

Director Sakari Hokkanen has long been fascinated by making a farce, and since he couldn’t find a suitable text, he decided to write it himself and update the genre to the 2010s.

“I consider farce to be the king of comedy, which requires a keen eye from the director and the actors. The entertaining nature of the farce is based on misunderstandings, coincidences, absurd situations, verbal humour and a fast-paced plot that accelerates towards the end. In terms of form, Comeback rap splashes is a very classic farce – people come and go in a hotel room and identities are mixed and so on. However, the content is completely up to date. While classic farces often contain chauvinistic humour, this one laughs at chauvinism and dismantles the often very stereotypical gender roles of both classic farces and Finnish rap through laughter,” says writer and director Sakari Hokkanen.

The set design for the luxury hotel is designed by Katariina Kirjavainen and the glamorous costumes by Laura Dammert. The lighting design is by Kari Leppälä and the sound design by Joonas Outakoski. The camouflage was designed by Milja Mensonen. The dramaturg of the play is Sanna Niemeläinen.

Sakari Hokkanen (b. 1978) is a Helsinki-based theatre director and screenwriter. Hokkanen’s texts tackle current phenomena and people with a sharp but understanding touch. The patterns of publicity and the media world are examined from many angles, with a precise, illuminating gaze, not forgetting humour. In addition to his own plays, Hokkanen has directed several adaptations of classics, children’s theatre and radio plays. 

Watch the videos:
Manager Taina Kovanen talks about Biiffi’s comeback show
Biiffi’s Christmas greetings
Comeback teaser

Read also Biiffi’s interview in Teatteriin magazine.

Comeback premiere 30.1.2019 at the Helsinki City Theatre’s Arena stage (Hämeentie 2)
Tickets 21,50 – 43 € (incl. pm)