Review: Mieletön metodi

In the theatre: The Insane Method

Last autumn, I regretted that the Helsinki City Theatre performed Daniel Glattauer’s play Mirakelmetoden (Die Wunderübung, 2014) at Lilla Teatern. I don’t really trust my own Swedish language skills, so I didn’t bother to go see the performance, because it would have been annoying if I hadn’t understood everything. But the regret ended now. Mirakelmetod has been translated into Finnish and I was immediately involved and had to go to the preview screening. Oh, and that song is called Mieletön metodi in Finnish.

The Insane Method is a relationship comedy in which a middle-aged couple, Valentin (Nicke Lignell) and Johanna (Pia Runnakko) have found their way to a relationship therapist (Joachim Wigelius). The marriage has lasted seventeen years, and the couple seems to have nothing left in common other than children and arguments. When a relationship therapist asks a couple to tell something about marriage, the conversation always turns into a verbal war of words between Johanna and Valentin. The same thing happens when a relationship therapist asks you to reminisce about the early days of marriage, when everything has been fine. What about the exercises given by the relationship therapist? Concentration is lost and people get angry. Can this kind of union continue or is there a reason to end up getting divorced?

I didn’t have any expectations about the actors, so I was really happy to see how brilliant the trio performed on stage. None of the actors took up too much space for themselves, but all acted in good harmony but with iron professionalism. Nicke Lignell in the role of the husband was brilliant. A self-absorbed guy who runs away from his wife’s moaning if the opportunity arises. Extra points are given for the fact that Lignell looked surprisingly similar to my favorite foreign actor, Jack Nicholson. Of course, in a younger version. What about Pia Runnakko? A hilarious wife in which, unfortunately, I saw a little bit of myself. Are we women really that hard at snitches? Still, there’s nothing you can do. The attack rushed at full speed and applause for it. Great work. Joachim Wigelius was top notch in the role of a relationship therapist. How the man’s butt held and there was enough understanding for such a married couple as Johanna and Valentin. And the method. It was amazing!

I have to say that already in the first moments of the play, I felt how familiar a situation was going on on stage. You can guess what your spouse is going to say, and you already know how to prepare what you will answer and how prickly. Or maybe you turn it into a joke and laugh at it. I love verbal indulgence. It’s easy to knock one off the pedestal, even if it’s a bit mean. On the other hand, if both sides of the verbal battle are equal, then small nasties should be allowed. I was also amused by the actors, who were like caricatures of certain types of people. Yes. I laughed and a lot. The play was funny throughout, even though it was really serious matters. On the other hand, the play was also very realistic. In few long-term marriages, everyday life is nothing but roses. I so enjoyed the performance with every fiber of my being. 

The play has been directed by Marina Meinander and Kirsi Porkka. The women have done a great job. The pieces are in place, and nothing seems to be rotting in the play. I also liked that the set and costumes weren’t over-the-top, because it’s a spoken word play that plays with words.

The Insane Method is a play that is suitable for adults who have a twinkle in their eye. I don’t recommend the play to serious people.