Ugala stages Backman’s Ove with Tarvo Vridolin

Ugala Theatre premiered a production of Swedish author Fredrik Backman’s novel A Man Called Ove on Saturday, with Tarvo Vridolin playing the title character, ERR reported.

Directed and adapted by Liis Aedmaa, the production is based on Backman’s original text rather than either of the two films made from the novel. Vridolin plays Ove, a bitter older pensioner whose wife was left in a wheelchair after a car accident and whose unborn child was also lost.

Ove, who has thoughts of suicide, directs his hidden pain at his neighbours and confesses at his wife’s grave.

“Life has punished him quite a lot, and that leaves its mark. When a person is left completely alone with their bitterness and worries, it is difficult not to become like that. But his heart is in the right place,” Vridolin told Aktuaalne kaamera.

The only people who manage to bring out Ove’s human side are Siiri, who has recently moved in next door, and her daughter Terje.

“Ove is affected by love and by taking care of one another. By people who are close to you, or for whose sake it is still worth continuing to live on this earth,” said Lauli Koppelmaa, who plays Siiri.

Aedmaa immediately thought of Vridolin, who has performed at Ugala for 30 years, when looking for an actor for the role. Vridolin shares the part with Oskar Punga, who plays the young Ove.

“It seemed to me that Tarvo Vridolin had reached a point in his acting career where this role could be a particularly rewarding challenge for him. And that is how it has been,” Aedmaa said.

Vridolin said he was not someone who waited for a leading role, but preferred interesting material that audiences would enjoy. He added that he was pleased to work with Backman’s story and Aedmaa’s stage adaptation.