Two actors sit and talk together in the theater's hairdressing salon.
Pirja Arponen (left) and Eeva Mäenpää.

Rehearsals for the play based on the music of Leevi and the Leavings continue in Imatra after a year's break

Release
17.1.2022 11:50
Due to the corona pandemic, the premiere has already had to be postponed by a year. At the moment, it is hoped that the first performance of the play will be seen on the stage of Teatteri Imatra on February 5.

It's like returning to an old friend, describes the actor Eeva Mäenpää.

That's how he felt when rehearsals for the musical play Life Behind the Scenes started after almost a year's break on Monday of this week.

Gösta Sundqvist and the piece based on the music of Leevi and the Leavings had time to rehearse for the premiere almost a year ago in January.

However, the coronavirus intervened in the situation, and the premiere was postponed: first for weeks, and finally for a whole year.

Everything came back to mind quickly

A year's break from the play feels like a long time. In advance, Mäenpää and his colleagues were a little skeptical about how everything would come back to mind Pirja Arponen tell.

—When the exercises started in January, I wondered if it would come out like this after a year's break, but it did. Everything came back to mind very quickly, says Arponen.

An uncertain situation gives training its own spice. In Takaraivo, there is always the awareness that the realization of the shows is not necessarily completely certain.

However, it doesn't show up in practice.

- We are working hard and trusting that we will be able to perform in February, Mäenpää states.

That's what the entire working group hopes for.

- In the midst of these times, a little escape from everyday life would certainly be welcome to the public as well. Music lightens and empowers, and it is needed right now, Arponen and Mäenpää say.

Performance on February 5

The musical play will be brought to life over the course of two weeks this January.

After that, the working group will take a short break, and will return to rehearsals during the week of the premiere.

—According to current information, the premiere will be celebrated on February 5. The decision on whether we will actually get on stage then will be made in the coming days. The decision is made based on the corona situation, the theater director and the director of the play Timo Rissanen says.

The show continues until the end of April.

The work is written by the author Eppu Nuotio. The main roles will be seen in Imatra Vieraileva Kirsti Valve and Eeva Mäenpää.

Antti Laine returns this spring to his role, which he had to miss a year ago due to sick leave. In other respects, the working group has remained the same.

For more information:
Theater director Timo Rissanen, timo.rissanenatimatra.fi (timo[dot]rissanen[at]imatra[dot]fi), TWO TWO WHEN TWO

Life behind the window Theater in Imatra 5.2. from

  • Manuscript: Eppu Nuotio
  • Control: Timo Rissanen
  • Set: Maarit Kalmakurki (trans.)
  • Costume Design: Marja Liukkonen
  • Sound Design: Keijo Miettinen
  • Lighting design: Jukka Parviainen
  • Choreography: Jouni Prittinen (trans.)
  • Conductor: Lauri Kuosa
  • Starring: Kirsti Valve (virt.) and Eeva Mäenpää.
  • In other roles: Pirja Arponen (rev.), Ulla-Maija Järnstedt, Kari Kinnari, Marko Kurikka, Antti Laine, Ville Lamberg (rev.), Heikki Pöyhiä (rev.) and Tatu Siivonen (rev.).
  • In the band: Lauri Kuosa (guitar, keyboards), Heikki Kaskela (keyboards), Janne Pätilä (drums) and Pekka Ranta (bass)