The play Elin Toona: the story under the eyes of the main character

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Writer Elin Toona thanked the actors after the performance. Kaire Reiljan

On Wednesday, a play based on the life story of writer Elin Toona “Teele sunnitud. Elin’s story”.

The story, which was directed by Eva Kalbus, was told by the theater troupe KOKK or Artistically On Kõik Korrektne. Students from two schools, Tallinn 32nd High School and Tallinn German High School, were on stage.

While often plays, films and books based on history tend to be unpopular among young people because there is nothing attractive about them, in the case of this production, the opinions of young people were the opposite. In a classical production, actors are usually seen narrating a story, but in Kalbus’s, a separate character – the narrator – was used. When asking fellow students what stood out about the play, most of them said that it was the narrator. It was highlighted that the use of the narrator was excitingly handled, that he was so passionate about it and that the role was very well done. “The way the young and older Elin were used – the older Elin told the main story of his youth, and the young Elin was currently in that time,” described one of the viewers. Thanks to the narrator, who talked about the details and gave a clear overview, the play was easy to understand.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand things and get the point across in a story about history, but in this production it was easy because of the costumes. Each character was dressed in period clothing and this gave the impression that the play was really based on real life.