Horace McCoyn a novel published in 1935 Let’s shoot horses too told about unemployed young people stumbling in the wake of the Great Depression in the United States, who dreamed of fame and a moment in the spotlight. Or just about the next meal and a roof over your head.
The aforementioned could be accessed in marathon dances, where the last couple standing won fame and money. The rules were that the couples danced for two hours and rested for ten minutes. This could take up to four months. The public gathered in the audience as well as talent seekers.
Even in Finland, the novel, which has been seen several times as a theater adaptation, has been linked to the reality TV phenomenon, among other things.
University of the Arts The drama adaptation of McCoy’s novel, interpreted with the frenzy of youth by the students of the third year of the University of Theater and Drama, unwittingly brings to mind the strangulation of current culture. What will the marathon of these soon-to-be-graduated artists be like?
And when the show’s master of ceremonies calls on the audience to cheer for their favorite couple, you can see in the audience that they really hope that they will reach the finish line. Audience participation in the performance is essential.
Heidi Räsänen the three dance couples appearing in the cleaned-up direction are all cleverly named as the central characters of the drama, Robert, who aims to become a director, and Gloria, who dreams of acting.
They dance on a small stage on a painted, huge roulette wheel, which reminds us of the capriciousness of the fortune teller.
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Valto Tynnilä’s fateful Little Heart plays throughout the show as the theme song.
A story fortunately, no attempt has been made to bring it up to date, and that is precisely why it is so effective in its resonance with the present. The atmosphere of the 1930s is beautifully conveyed in the costumes and the authentic, reverberant sound design. Stylish lighting is Outi Vedenpään artistic thesis. The theme song plays throughout the show Valto Tynnilän fatal Little heart.
The tragedy lurking behind the dark glamor of the stage is a sad comedy. Marathon dances the sparkling master of ceremonies Velma advertises the prosaic products of the sponsors, such as batteries.
The dance contestants will be sponsored by Joonatan’s slimming cell, thanks to which they will be able to replace their broken shoes with new ones. However, even sponsorship has its price.
Like for student work that’s fine, the interpretation hasn’t started looking for individual performances. Teak people who vary in several different roles show that they perform well together. Doubling the roles also emphasizes the themes of the play.
In the cruel entertainment, the young people are just cattle to the viewers, the same mass that slogs forward in the spirit world. Everyone wants a piece of them, both the audience and the Radio Spirit reporting on the marathon.
The last race is the so-called derby, where the contestants run in a circle until their legs give out. And a barefoot runner is useless.
Let’s shoot horses too.
Adaptation of the play based on Horace McCoy’s novel by Ray Herman, translated by Esko Elstelä. Choreographer Antti Lahti. Stage concept Vilma Mattila, stage design Pekka Korpiniitty. Costumes by Elina Kolehmainen, lights by Outi Vedenpää (TeaK, artistic thesis, TeM). Voices, composition and arrangement by Janna Hyrynkangas (TeaK). Starring Lauri Qvick, Nomi Enckell, Meri Luukkanen, Toni Nikka, Patrik Hvitsjö, Aapo Salonen, Veeti Vekola, Ronja Orasta, Jessica Penttilä, Aino Sihvonen, Tellervo Jalas, Youssef Asad Alkhatib. Study project of the acting education program of the University of the Arts University of Theatre.