Review: NSFW IS ABSORBING INSPITE OF ITS MINIMALISM at Koko Theater

Review: Rosanna Liuski
Photos: Heidi Bergström

Script: Lucy Kirkwood

Translation: Aleksi Milonoff

Director: Anna Veijalainen

Last Friday 26.2. I had the chance to watch and review Koko Theatre's adaption of Lucy Kirkwood's NSFW (standing for Not Safe For Work)

"It is an internet slang that is often used to describe online posts that are mainly associated with heavy nudity, sexual, heavy profanity and other things that could often link with pornography." - Urban Dictionary

First, from the title of it I thought NSFW would be mostly about how the media tries to catch viewer's attention by any means; that it would be a comedy on sexualizing and advertising with pornographic material - or as the youngs say - adding a lil' bit of "spice".

The performance and spesifically the script ended up presenting two maleficent work communities in clear, could I say compressed characters with clear objects and satirical straits.

I think Koko theatre took a great stand against the disfunctions of workplaces of any kind by performing this piece. After dreading the stories' realism Koko's performance didn't restrain us from laughing about the horriblenesses of its various fates.

Let's dig into the review:

The auditorium is very small and in the midst so the scenes are very realistic and the audience views everything as if from outside of a terrario. The actors have to be aware in 360 degrees and now when it was even streamed I could have imagine how much thoughtwork the process needed!

Different, somewhat minimalistic but direct lightings take us to different places and sceneries throughout the show pleasantly.

My first frown and question by myself was that why the script had not been localized: names translated and London changed into Helsinki. There were some cultural aspects, of course, for example working hours after hours without a salary just to thicken one's CV. I see how there could have been problems with it, but let's sort it out of our minds for now.

Acting-wise everyone did a good job but my personal favorites remained to be Sami Saikkonen as Adian with his distinctive, charismatic voice and variations in tone, and Elias Salonen as Sam with his fresh excitement and clear articulation, which certainly isn't that self-evident with young actors!

(When phone was used to make a call, it actually called - not self-evident! Thank you for not letting us see a homescreen, thank you.)

The scene where he got a panic attack and crawled on the floor around the square stage while red lights were lit was one of the best and well framed scenes.

What it came to the stream's viewpoints they were certainly well thought out and balanced, just like a stage needs to be balanced too.

"--but five stars, what does that even mean nowadays?" - Adian

Dialogue goes in a flow and certainly keeps in a grasp. The only moment I started dropping off was when Sam was offered a photoshopping test by Miranda. I was waiting for the test itself to be committed quicker because things in this performance had been done in quite a quick phase, "no sooner said than done" -mentality.

Nevertheless, I think there was more problem in script-wise than directing/acting-wise in this case. Or maybe there should have been more pause or strict guiding towards Miranda and her speech to Sam. I got the impression that we should await for Sam to get his chance to do his work and thus Miranda's speech and explanations about the field was too long.

What it comes to the end of the job interview -scene the pausing in the end was excellent: I always appreciate when the play and audience is given time to breathe and experience.

Even though I kinda felt time passing by the performance itself ended so quickly! It was minimalistic and straight and in its own genre quite, sufficient though I would have wanted to see more!

Wise words from the play:"--but five stars, what does that even mean nowadays?"

Review: Rosanna Liuski

Pictures: Heidi Bergström

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