Review: APOLOGIA at Playhouse Teater

The play this autumn at the Playhouse is Apologia written by Alexi Kaye Campbell. The play was first played in 2009 at the Bush Theater in London. Last year, it was reinstated in London with Stockard Channing in the lead role as Kristin Miller. If you grew up with Grease as one of the big movies, you know that Stockard Channing is Rizzo. I was thinking of seeing Apologia last autumn in London but I did not. It has just premiered at The Roundabout Theater in New York again with Stockard Channing as Kristin. I'm really glad that Playhouse has chosen it as the autumn play.

Apologia is about Kristin Miller, a woman who stood on the barricades of the 60's. She has become a successful art historian and just written her memoirs. She will celebrate her birthday with her two sons and their girlfriends and the friend Henry. But the sons Peter and Simon does not see their mother as the successful woman but as the mother who left them when they were young. So this will be a family dinner with many emotions and truths to be discussed.

Playhouse has both a sense of finding modern and current plays as well as casting the right actor for the right roles. Marika Lindström had to stand in with short notice when Eva Britt Strandberg got sick and the opening night was moved forward with two weeks. One can only be impressed by how she succeeds in the role of Kristin in just over two weeks. Kristin a woman who on the surface is successful, but inside has so many feelings she has shut down. Her private sorrow is that her ex husband took away her sons when she was investing in her career. She has become a woman who lives for her career and does not let anyone in. She is critical to everyone and still has her left wing ideals from the 60's. Marika Lindström delivers the ironic comments perfectly with a little smile on her lips. Perfect interpretation of the ironic British humor. Kristin does not have much to spare for the sons' girlfriends. Trudi is the son of Peter's new girlfriend, who turns out to be a Christian, to Kristin's horror. Frida Hallgren is wonderful as the kind Trudi who wants everyone well and really wants to make a good impression on Kristin. But it's really not easy. Despite all the ironic and bad comments she receives, she keeps calm and eventually she is approved by Kristin. The other son Simon's girlfriend Claire, is an actress in a soap. But she herself emphasizes that she is a dramatic actress. For her, the exterior is very important. Both girlfriends are straight opposites to Kristin. Cecilia Frode is very good as Claire. A strong woman who believes in herself and who is not afraid to say to Christ. Three different women portrayed by some of our best actresses. I*m not sure if it is meant that women are the strongest roles in this play, but I was most touched and impressed by them. Strong women's portrait of different types of women of different generations. The sons Peter and Simon are played by Jonas Kruse and Jonathan Silén. Peter has become a banker to his mother's disappointment. Simon is depressed. Both sons are disappointed in their mother as they think she abandoned them in their childhood. The friend Henry (Donald Högberg) has the role as peace broker and the somewhat comical character. All three are good in their roles, but the best and strongest are the women.

Joachim Siegård has made a very good translation keeping the British irony. Great lines delivered with fingertip irony.

The scenography of Pia Wiik is good. A kitchen with large dining table where everyone is gathered. Maria Felldin Almgren's costumes emphasize the different characters. The white designer dress that Claire really looks like a designer dress has gone a little too far. Kristin's dinner suit is elegant and emphasizes her aging elegance and strength.

It is a play with laughter and reflection and recognition factor. Most, if not all, may be related to family grievances and disagreements and how different people are, even if you are a family and how different people can look at the same.

Apologia is played until December 1 and you want to see a well-played, fun play that leads to reflection, I can highly recommend it. And why don't you spend a full evening at Playhouse with a piece of food in the restaurant or something to drink in the bar before you see the play?

Tickets can be purchased at:

https://www.playhouseteater.se/biljetter-apologia.aspx