| Original name |
Suomen hevonen |
| Kirjoittajat |
Sirkku Peltola |
| Original language |
Finnish |
| Premiere year |
2004 |
| Theater |
KOM-teatteri / KOM Theatre |
| Keywords |
Drama |
Performances abroad
Eesti Dramateater 7.10.2007;
Copenhagen (staged reading) 5.5.2006;
Theatre Centre, Santa Barbara, USA 9.-10.6.2007, reading La Mousson d'été -festival, France 26.8.2008
Synopsis
Sirkku Peltola’s play paints a tragicomic picture of life in the rural EU hinterlands, where the traditional, respected way of life is being crushed under the wheels of dynamic EU bureaucracy. The Finnhorse, a breed the playwright describes as headstrong yet meek, stubborn yet humble, serious, patient and content with poor pasture, symbolises the rural way of life, but the young man in the play, Kai, delivers a blunt verdict on this noble creature; in his opinion it has outlived its usefulness. Kai would rather ride a Harley Davidson – a childish young man’s pie-in-the-sky dream which marks the beginning of the end of the family farm.
Life at the farm is already somewhat chaotic because, despite having gotten divorced over ten years ago, the mistress of the house and her ex-husband still live together as neither of them can afford to buy the other one out. The household also includes an active, cynical granny and a coarse-mouthed teenage daughter who is waiting for her life to acquire some sort of meaning, and the ex-husband’s new girlfriend who visits the house on her bicycle to sleep over and promote spiritual growth.
Peltola’s characters are nearly mad, caricatures almost, but all the same they are recognisable and have plenty meat on their bones. The text is absurdly funny and free flowing. It is easy to see that Peltola is a professional director from the way the dialogue gives space and material for the actors’ own interpretations.
As one of Finland’s leading dramatists, Sirkku Peltola has written plays for many Finnish theatres and won several awards.
Translations
| Language |
English |
| Translation name |
The Finnhorse |
| Translators |
Eva Buchwald |
| Julkaisija |
Lasipalatsi, Helsinki 2005 |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Estonian |
| Translation name |
Soome hobune |
| Translators |
Viive Taro
Ülev Aaloe |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
French |
| Translation name |
Le cheval finlandais |
| Translators |
Alexandre André |
| Julkaisija |
Éditions Théâtrales |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Hungarian |
| Translation name |
A finn ló |
| Translators |
Ottilia Kovács |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Icelandic |
| Translation name |
Finnski hesturinn |
| Translators |
Sigurður Karlsson |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Croatian |
| Translation name |
Finski konj |
| Translators |
Nenni Delmestre |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Czech |
| Translation name |
Finský kůň |
| Translators |
Alzbeta Stollova |
| Julkaisija |
DILIA Agentura, www.dilia.cz |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |
| Language |
Swedish |
| Translation name |
Finsk häst |
| Translators |
Pekka Sonck |
| Drama agency |
Agency North Ltd, contact(a)agencynorth.com |