Savisaar (the musical) opens to mixed reviews
The premiere of a "political musical" named after the mayor of Tallinn, Edgar Savisaar, brought a standing ovation for the performance by Marika Vaarik in the title role, though reviews were mixed.
The production was by NO99, an experimental theater that has also, in the past, lanced the other side of the political spectrum, with a grand parody of the Reform Party and party congresses.
ERR's reviewer Kadi Herkül said the opening performance of Savisaar on February 6 was an "impressive show," noting the technical solutions and costumes (it was performed in the Nordea concert hall and needed some wizardry to fill up the giant venue).
In general, her piece, entitled "Marketing stunt of the year," panned the production, commenting that it had little music for a musical and could be considered an "anti-musical," nor did it meet the classical definition of a tragedy.
"Aristotle considered it most important that the hero's journey spark sympathy and fear in the viewer, but I didn't see one or the other in Savisaar." She said that for a three-hour show, it had too few brilliant theatrical moments.
But on opening night, "exit polls" conducted by ERR with politicians who had seen it seemed a bit more favourable.
Specifically, Vaarik's performance as Savisaar brought praise from another woman who might justifiably be considered an expert on the subject, ex-wife Vilja Savisaar-Toomast. "At one point, it seemed I was seeing Edgar Savisaar in the flesh on that stage," she told ETV.
Editor: K. Rikken