Today’s princess fairy tale – interview with Sonja Pajunoja and Martti Manninen
The Little Mermaid, a sweetly romantic fairy tale… Or a story about two rebels? Sonja Pajunoja and Martti Manninen, who play the lead roles in the new musical at the Helsinki City Theatre, talk about what it feels like to interpret modern Disney royals together with their own life partner.In the musical The Little Mermaid at the Helsinki City Theatre, Sonja Pajunoja and Martti Manninen play the roles of Mermaid Ariel, who dreams of the world of humans, and her favourite character, Prince Erik, who struggles against the cramped role of the heir to the throne.
The duo says in unison that these are dream roles. The Little Mermaid was a part of both of their childhood as a fairy tale, a film and a phenomenon, so the roles of Disney royals feel like a great honour.
“I’m a redhead and a stubborn woman myself, so Ariel has felt like a relatable, different kind of princess. Or maybe it’s funny that Ariel doesn’t want to be a princess,” Pajunoja says.
“I feel that Ariel and Erik are basically the same. What they have in common is a sense of adventure, courage, going their own way, enormous sensitivity and the need to find their own place in the world,” Manninen reflects.
The gender roles depicted in Disney’s cartoons have been the subject of a lot of consideration in recent years. Arielia in the film The Little Mermaid, which premiered in 1989, has been accused in various analyses of both giving up her voice because of a man and defended because she makes her own choices.
Pajunoja and Manninen see the mermaid and her prince as a relentless duo. Inspiration is not sought from the film, but the working group led by director Samuel Harjanne has built its own interpretation of the characters from the beginning.
“Ariel does fall in love during the story, but she doesn’t go into the human world after a man, but for herself. She feels that she is not supposed to be a mermaid, but a human being. It’s really brave what she’s willing to do for her own dream,” Pajunoja says.
“For me, the story is about rebellion. For both Ariel and Erik, it would be safest to settle for their part and be what is expected of them. However, both want to follow the path that they feel is right for them,” Manninen says.
A shared dream
Pajunoja and Manninen not only play lovers in the musical, but they are also a couple in the real world. Still, ending up as co-actors was not a slam dunk.
“I’ve never been to such a large-scale audition. We really got to show our skills there, as we did both dialogue and singing with many different co-stars,” Pajunoja says.
“Because the audition allowed me to show something of myself both as an actor and as a singer, I felt not only happy about the choice after getting the role, but also the certainty that I really knew I was the right choice for the role,” Manninen adds.
In addition to the roles, the audition left Pajunoja and Manninen with something that not many other couples have – namely, the professional jury’s assessment that the two of them are credible stage lovers.
“I was a little nervous about what if the jury didn’t see that there was chemistry between us,” Pajunoja laughs.
The Little Mermaid is already the fifth musical for Pajunoja and Manninen. They have previously worked together in productions of the Tampere Theatre and the Samppalinna Summer Theatre. The duo says that their long work experience together is a real stroke of luck.
“What makes this especially nice is that the co-star is a real professional. I have full confidence in Martti’s professionalism,” Pajunoja says.
“It’s not self-evident that the couple likes to work together, but it’s terribly great to work with Sonja. However, we have decided that we will go through work matters outside the home and come home free from work,” Manninen says.
“As a freelancer, you never know where you’ll end up working next. It’s really lucky to be able to live with your partner in the same city, let alone work in the same place. It’s wonderful to share your dream with someone else,” Pajunoja sums up.
No to silent approval
Hans Christian Andersen published the fairy tale The Little Mermaid in 1837. According to Pajunoja and Manninen, the musical adaptation gives the timeless story new, modern tones. Under the waves, there are themes that are sadly topical in today’s Finland.
“The story of The Little Mermaid reminds us of how important it is for every person in society to be exactly who they feel they are. You can search for yourself, your own identity can change, and it is okay to challenge other people’s images of us,” Manninen says.
“Ariel tries to make her loved ones understand her point of view that others should not be hated because of their differences. He does not remain silent, but shows that it is important to say things out loud and not just silently accept,” Pajunoja continues.
In the underwater world of The Little Mermaid, this important message is combined with a hefty dose of genuine theatrical magic. The viewer will be taken on a journey into the depths of the sea as the fairy tale is brought to life with the help of theatrical technology.
Manninen talks about the moment when the musical’s working group got their first taste of the underwater world.
“It left a strong impression when we first saw Sonja being flown on the big stage during rehearsals. This uses a complex flying technique that allows Sonja to be moved in the air in many directions, while singing and swimming… The whole gang fell silent to watch it.”
Siiri Liitiä
The writer is the editor-in-chief of the Musical Journey podcast.