STONES IN MY POCKET

In the play *Stones in My Pocket*, Charlie and Jake (played byMartti Suosalo and Mika Nuojua) journey through the lives of many men. Directed by Pentti Kotkaniemi, the play weaves Irish history into the characters’ fates and experiences. *Stones in the Pocket* is a phenomenon in the Finnish theater scene—it has been playing to sold-out audiences since 2002.

The director praises the play’s concept: “I’m amazed that it’s only now that a contemporary writer has used the ‘misterio buffo’ technique, which dates back to the Middle Ages—where an actor switches to another role simply by changing their rhythm and emphasis.” It is specifically Suosalo and Nuojua who master this technique of switching roles. Together, they play a total of 15 roles. “The transitions are lightning-fast, and the range of characters extends from a seductive American beauty to a 75-year-old country bumpkin,” Kotkaniemi explains.

Still, the story isn’t just a night of jokes between two guys. “No, *Stones in My Pocket* is a tragic comedy and a challenging two-man play,” says Mika Nuojua. The story begins when 35-year-old losers Charlie and Jake take jobs as assistants on the set of an American film and end up doing something completely different from what they had anticipated.

Director Kotkaniemi says the play is a classic example of actor-driven theater. “That’s why both actors need to be virtuosos. Fortunately, they are, and that’s a real stroke of luck for the director.”

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