Review: Den Girige

Hit on Lillan

It’s great that Lilla Teatern, during its jubilee year – 70 years – has managed to hit such a veritable hit as Moliére’s The Greedy. The witty text flows in Christer Kihlman’s translation and Neil Hardwick’s direction is hilariously humorous without going to exaggeration. Ralf Forsström’s set design and Sari Salmela’s costumes complete the visual enjoyment.

Classics often lack the element of surprise that a new and unknown play can offer, but Lillan’s eminent ensemble really manages to breathe life into Molière’s timeless text and keep the audience spellbound from start to finish with their excellent acting performances.

The main role of Harpagon is played, as it was 30 years ago, by the theatre manager himself, Asko Sarkola, and it is simply rock’n roll over the man. Admittedly, his body language feels a little too youthful for a 60-year-old man, but Sarkola makes up for it superbly with his unbeatable facial expressions as well as his use of voice.

Well-fitting roles

The son Cléante is also played by the son in real life, Sampo Sarkola, who sits well in the role of the charmer, while Åsa Wallenius shines as the daughter Élise.

The daughter’s secret lover, Valère, who constantly turns his coat to the wind to please the Harpagon, is played with a sting by the theatre’s artistic director Pekka Strang. The sweet Mariane coveted by both father and son is a delightful revelation in Amanda Löfman’s portrayal. Sixten Lundberg is funny as the fake chef Master Jacques who tries to cast suspicion on Valère when in fact it is the mischievous prankster La Flèche who stole Harpagon’s money – rarely have you seen Matts Stenlund as good as in this role! Joachim Wigelius plays the police commissioner, but shines above all in the small role of Master Simon – with a priceless mimicry, he gets a lot out of his few minutes on stage. Pia Runnakko plays the matchmaker Frosine and Eeva-Liisa Haimelin the housekeeper Dame Claude, while Tom Wentzel and Peik Stenberg alternate in the role of Élise’s spurned suitor Anselme – at the premiere we saw a festive version with Wentzel with hair as white as the suit from head to toe.

Successful overall

The Greedy One is undoubtedly one of Neil Hardwick’s most successful directorial works and the character direction is perfect and entices the audience to constant laughter without overriding or detracting from the underlying seriousness of the text. Ralf Forsström’s set design was also a delight to the eye, a worn-out kitchen extremely realistically realized, a solid craftsmanship as a nice counterbalance to the minimalist stylization that is so common nowadays. The stage is completed by Sari Salmela’s fine costumes. Lillans Den greedy is absolutely worth a visit for all friends of good acting.