Caged humans perform at Helsinki’s Korkeasaari zoo
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By Juha Salonen
They stare out of their cages straight into your eyes. At times they take a few steps, turn their heads to look at something. What it is they’re looking at remains a mystery. What can they be thinking?
Then they squabble over an apple or engage in a silent dispute over a stick that each of them would like to have. There is something very familiar about these creatures in their furry hats and rubber trousers.
"They are so human", says a voice coming out of a nearby loudspeaker.
Indeed. In its performances lasting about 35 minutes, the theatre group Todellisuuden Tutkimuskeskus ("The Research Centre of Reality") examine the surprising similarities between humans and animals.
The venue for the Ihmisiä, eläimiä ("People, Animals") performance is most appropriate - Korkeasaari zoo.
A bottle of bubbly is popped open after opening night. There were perhaps not as many people in the audience as some hoped for, but director Tuire Tuomisto appears to be satisfied - even happy.
And why not? The story dreamed up by Tuomisto worked well, after a little bit of wavering.
The actors Jonna Wikström and Anni Tani conjure up an animal-like presence with the help of a silent choreography, which nevertheless has much to say.
"We studied different animals for a long time, and how they move in a cage", the director says. The bird-like head movements were copied from owls, and otherwise the movements express understated clowning.
Comments were borrowed from families with children who had visited the zoo. They come out over the loudspeakers, as Tani and Wikström stare at the audience from their cages.
Except for the tape, there are no human voices in the production. The drama is built around squabbles between the animals. At the same time, there are gentle observations of the wretchedness of human existence.
"It is not a very flattering picture of humanity. There is cheating, bickering, greed, and subjugation in the play. But they also learn to share", Tuomisto says.
The theatre company takes on the problems of the human condition in another production called Knock Out!, which is performed at the Savate Club near the Sörnäinen Metro station.
The players have taken off their "costumes"; the rain-soaked fur hats and drenched mittens are drying. Then they raise a glass to their common effort.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 25.11.2006
Ihmisiä, eläimiä can be seen at Korkeasaari zoo until December 16th daily at 2:00 PM. The duration of the performance is about 35 minutes. Warm clothing is recommended
JUHA SALONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
juha.salonen@hs.fi
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| 28.11.2006 - THIS WEEK |
 Caged humans perform at Helsinki’s Korkeasaari zoo
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