This weekend, the Nordic Heritage Museum presents the world premier musical, Troublemaker’s Mother, based on the Finnish epic, Kalevala (Land of the Heroes.)
Finns and Fennophiles around the world honor the epic poems on February 28th, the date the author signed the forward, and this year’s Seattle celebration is no different. This is the second musical adaptation of a story within Kalevala by Seattle writer Nick DiMartino. According to a release sent out by the museum, his previous work, “Sampo” (The Magic Mill) was the highlight of the national FinnFest held at the University of Washington in 1999.
Troublemaker’s Mother “retains the classic elements of tragedy – pride, passion, betrayal, violence and death – while mining the humor beneath the somber surface. In bringing this work to the stage, DiMartino is joined by composer Kim Douglass, director Lori Larsen, and a cast of talented performers, including some returning from the Sampo production,” the release reads.
Performances of Troublemaker’s Mother are scheduled for February 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and February 27 and 28 at 3:00 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 67th St). Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $17.00 for Museum members and $15 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under are free with accompanying adult. To purchase tickets, please call (206) 789-5707 ext. 10.
We had a copy of the Kalevala around the house growing up. As I am not into long poems, like 400 or 600 pages, I never read it. I've read a section here and there, but spent more time on the beginning as I thought one should naturally start there. All I can remember is the classic oral tradition call to arms/benediction/indoctrination at the start of it. The why are you listening to me tell you this tale, why it is so important, and you are one of us, and this is our tale,and this is how it all began, and this is who we are kind of thing. Its so obviously meant to be presented that I'm not sure I missed anything by not reading it from cover to cover.
While I don't know anything about this performance, I highly recommend seeing this, as performances of it are rare, and the book, while not inaccessible, is simply not meant to be a book.