Theatre review: 'La Vita Nuova' at Sadadateater is vivid but drags

A new production at Tartu's Sadadateater titled 'La Vita Nuova' impresses with its colourful, cinematic visual style but struggles with pacing. The review also notes actor Reimo Sagor's recurring appearances as animals in supporting roles.

A new staging of 'La Vita Nuova' at Tallinn's Sadadateater offers audiences a visually rich, film-like theatrical experience — but the production's tendency to stretch its runtime leaves something to be desired.

The evening opens with a memorable scene: a very large cat, played by Reimo Sagor, is called into a library alongside a companion to drive out mice. «Mjäu-mjäu,» Sagor delivers flatly from behind his costume — a line that is as absurd as it is oddly charming. For attentive theatergoers, the moment may prompt a smile of recognition: this is apparently not the first time Sagor has been cast as an animal in a supporting role in Tartu. On a previous occasion, the same actor reportedly appeared as an elephant.

The production's greatest strength lies in its aesthetic ambition. The visual language draws heavily on cinematic references, with lighting and staging choices that feel more borrowed from film grammar than traditional stage convention. At its best, this creates striking, image-driven moments that linger in the memory long after the curtain falls.

However, the production does not always justify its length. Certain scenes overstay their welcome, and the pacing loses tension in the middle stretches — a problem that no amount of visual flair can fully compensate for. A tighter editorial hand in the rehearsal room might have elevated an already promising show into something truly exceptional.

Overall, 'La Vita Nuova' at Sadadateater is a bold and largely enjoyable piece of theatre, carried by committed performances and a confident visual identity. Fans of inventive staging will find plenty to admire, even if patience is occasionally required.