Role of Tom of Finland in new Finnish play

Helsingin Sanomat, Thursday September 15^th, 2011, Kulttuuri.

Kirjoittanut Suna Vuori
Translated by Maija Liisa Ingebrigtsen

In the new play at the Finnish national theater, HOMO! Actor Seppo Paakkonen is playing the role of, amongst others, Tom of Finland. Paakkonen and fellow actor Santeri Kinnunen from Helsinki City Theatre discuss playing gay parts as heterosexual persons.

According to the actors, sexuality is an essential part of the work that you do with your whole identity, body and soul. “An actor is using his or her sensuality all the time,” Kinnunen and Paakkonen say almost synchronized. “It’s related to everything: gestures, being on stage, finding different sides of yourself, contact with audience. The famous charisma is by far precisely sexual awareness and self-knowledge.”

Verkkosukat! Helsingin Kaupunginteatterin Lainahöyhenten Santeri Kinnunen ja Kansallisteatterin HOMO!n
Seppo Pääkkönen, molemmat heteroita, ovat keskustelleet tunnin verran homoroolien tekemisestä.

“The form and style depends on the circumstances the gayness is presented in, almost like as if thinking which country you play in. If you can convince people early that the person is gay, you don’t have to stress it for the rest of the play. Afterwards, it’s all about thoughts, and interaction between the actors,” Paakkonen says.

Paakkonen plays nearly ten different parts in the carnevalistic HOMO! play, and curses the boots he has to use in the part as Tom of Finland: “In the start, they were just aching like hell. But now after the stretching they’re not hurting just as much.” The changing from an ice hockey suit into a one-piece in 30 seconds was also hard. When Santeri Kinnunen sees the image of Paakkonen as Tom of Finland he’s cheered up: “We have a lot of Tomppas images in the Zazas (the drag part he’s playing) dressing room.”

The guys also discuss how cliché stereotypes of men dressed as gay or women or drags are considered funny because the insecurities and confusions of the heterosexual mans own sexuality are canalized there, and revealed in front of everyone.
Paakkonen claims there’s always a threshold to overcome, even in himself, to reveal his own charm and beauty, and not just doing something superficial on stage.

Published: 23rd September 2011

Categorised in: Events, Friends of Tom