Nobody said Christmas was easy. What is supposed to be gathering the family in the festive season is for some convulsive coziness, for others a camouflaged disaster or an explosive charge of irritation. And if you come from Southern Norway, such dams almost never break. They know how to use that in “Small talk – Ring Christmas in with the Dvergsnes family” at Kilden in Kristiansand. Awkward conversation about hanging curtains Filmmaker Even Hafnor won several awards for the short film “Small Talk” when he came out in 2015. This has now become a theatre. The action is set on Christmas Eve in a home in Kristiansand where important or close topics are not on the agenda. The awkward conversation around Christmas dinner has large elements of silence, as if no one dares to say anything for fear of puncturing a bubble. And then the conversation revolves mostly around hanging curtains, sauce and whether you have to eat or run a marathon. THE CONVERSATION GOES TIRED: The Dvergsnes family seated around the Christmas table. Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl The performance opens with a kind of family portrait where all the characters are presented and find their place in the Christmas room. The almost static set means that you have plenty of time to look around the scenography – which is modeled after the home of director Hafnor’s grandmother. Not only that, both his mother and father are involved as actors in the play – just as they were in the film. In this home hang the classic blue Christmas plates from Porsgrund, and there are clear traces from both the 80s and 90s. The plot has been added to our time. Laughter-inducing stone duck In here, grandson Espen (Fredrik Høstaker) takes his girlfriend Elisabeth (Elisabeth Robstad) with him – for the first time. She is greeted with scant interest and polite greetings, and the audience giggles at how awkward it is to be welcomed into a family. SKEPTICAL: “Yes…?” Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl Things are going smoothly around the table. There is more and more giggles from the hall, and when the old lady in the house (Sidsel Knutsen) faints and lands with her head on the plate, the hall almost explodes with laughter when the first line falls: “Are you okay?” Granny comes to herself and sits wiping sauce off her glasses while the frugal conversation continues as before. There is no doubt that the first part of the vision is the best. “Small talk” divides Christmas Eve into three parts, where dinner is the first part, then comes the coffee, and finally the gifts. The family is beset by worse and more serious events than a duck in the sauce, but the footballers do not replace their stone ducks. Hafnor uses this as a consistent move, and it is laughable, but at the same time it does not make full use of the theatre. TENSE: Short glances and awkward pauses around the table. Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl Lacks nuance in reactions Because old mother is not doing so well. The foresight loses some of its believability when you don’t see development in the characters. One can maintain such a grip for a long time, but somewhere the feelings must become visible. The last part of the vision is therefore unresolved in all its funny horror. The shoe players, who are a mix of professionals from Kilden and amateurs, are really good at keeping their masks on. But director Hafnor should have opened up the characters more, should have played a little with nuances in reactions. Because when it fails, one also loses faith in the story about Espen, the man who brought his girlfriend Elisabeth home for Christmas for the first time. I think it is very unusual to have so little care for a loved one when he is repeatedly placed in uncomfortable situations. CRAMP-FRIENDLY FUN: There’s nothing like a lap around the tree to get you in the mood. Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl Framsyninga presents the family as very religious and conservative. But none of this is based on lines or has anything to say to the action. Religion is not important in the context, and is an element that should be better utilized or removed. A giggle bubble of a performance What I miss most are several lines with double meanings. Espen’s mother, who is played by Hilde Hafnor, explains during dinner why she didn’t drink soda but juice, and how thin she wants the juice, because she doesn’t want to show off. Here a bit of the trapped air seeps out of her, and I would like to see more of this in the replicas. It would have only made the story better. That said: The audience giggled and laughed. After each act the conversation was lively, there was clearly a lot to feel in. DRAMATIC: Christmas Eve at Dvergsnes takes an unexpected turn. Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl In the screening, they have removed the young characters from the film, the student Espen and the boyfriend are the youth alibi in this generational narrative. It’s a bit of a shame to lose the energy that young people bring to a Christmas celebration, but it brings out the smiles in the well-grown audience. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many elderly people giggle so forcefully – and with good reason. Because what is not more fun than the most awkward versions of ourselves? And this foresight is good for that. It is absolutely worth getting the giggles from a performance in Advent. news reviewer: Title: “Small talk – Call Christmas in with the Dvergsnes family” Script and direction: Even Hafnor Where: Kilden Teater, Kristiansand Scenography and costume design: Paul Magnus Lunde Dramaturg: Endre Sannes Hadland Cast: Sidsel Knutsen, Thor Einar Hanisch, Magne Skjævesland, Hilde Hafnor, Vidar Hafnor, Kristian Thomassen, Ann Ingrid Fuglestveit, Fredrik Høstaker, Elisabeth Robstad, Håkon Moe, Even Wennerberg When: 24 November–17. December Duration: 60 minutes Hi! I review theatre, performing arts and dance for news as a freelancer. Also read my reviews of “Kristin Lavransdotter” at Det Norske Teatret, of the play “Don Juan” at Trøndelag Teater or “Snøsøstera” at Det Norske Teateret.
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“Small talk – Ring in Christmas with the Dvergsnes family” on Kilden in Kristiansand – news Culture and entertainment
