What is love? The age-old question follows us throughout life, particularly during emotional times, whether distraught from recent heartbreak or overcome with the bubbling emotions of new love. When we humans ponder this question, we tend to overlook many types of love. If there were only one type, then perhaps we wouldn’t contemplate this question in the first place.
The vexing topic of human emotions, and especially love, is the main subject of the Estonian Youth Theater’s production “Heart and Soul” (EST: “Hingest ja Südamest”). The title alludes to the delicacy of the subject matter. The play took place on the theater’s main stage in Ferdinand Hall, where I took my seat and waited for the performance to begin.
Using what looked to be worn-out luggage, massive steel and glass sliding doors, and train tracks, the stage was transformed into a grand train station. The performance was originally played at a different location when it had its premiere in July 2023. The play took place at Tapa train station, well out of the city center and different from what most theater-goers are used to. They have now brought it to the main theater hall, and they haven’t lost the atmosphere — instead, they brought it with them.
The impeccable use of the lights and music set the mood for a performance which turned out to be both mysterious and emotional, two words that may also describe the sensation of love. The production is based on the works and letters of A. H. Tammsaare, one of Estonia’s most notable authors. The subject matter is not what surprised me the most about this performance. I am a sucker for love and strong emotion-based performances, which is why I chose to see this play. What impressed me most was that the play comprised several of Tammsaare’s works rather than one in particular. Some works that were included were “Young Souls” (EST: “Noored hinged”), “I Loved a German” (EST: “Ma armastasin sakslast”) and “Truth and Justice II” (EST: “Tõde ja õigus II”). All of Tammsaare’s works have characters ruled by love, which is often the cause of their problems and emotional turmoil. This is why I found the railway station a wonderful choice for the setting, as it gives us the idea that all of these different characters are at a meeting point or a crossroads in their relationships.
In this production, an array of characters meet (some even for the first time), and we dive into mesmerizing dialogue where they express love the only way they know how. As viewers, we witness the types of love each character expresses, whether forbidden love, the love between friends, motherly love, or young love. The actors were, for lack of a better word, spectacular. Their sincere portrayal of the characters left many audience members in tears. Particularly harrowing was Taavi Tõnisson’s performance. His raw portrayal of a man perplexed by love and its unfathomability left me truly touched.
The ending didn’t disappoint. At the end, the cast started moving around the props, particularly the old luggage that was on the stage from the beginning. They were piled up to make a wall, and plexiglass boxes were added to make windows in the wall. In the front of the wall, the actor Risto Vaidla sat on a trunk, soulfully reading an excerpt from a diary, and the play came to a sincere conclusion.
This piece took me on an emotional rollercoaster for over two hours, and I loved every minute. A quote from the play said, “I want to touch you with words, ” which certainly rang true. If you asked me if I recommend this play, I would say yes to any Estonian-speaking people. If you’re still studying the language, it could get difficult since it’s a very dialogue-heavy play, but you may pick up new words and phrases to enrich your vocabulary.
The next shows are on the 30th and 31st of January, and 26th and 27th of February.
Pictures: Kulla Laas
Author: Emma
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