Release date is 2026-05-15

Tapio Riikonen

"Oikealla uralla" by Aapo Pärnänen is a comedic play written in the early 20th century. Set in a Finnish rural community, it satirizes social climbing, pious hypocrisy, and patriarchal authority as the farmer Jukarainen tries to force his daughter Sohvi to wed the wealthy church official Tahvanainen, while she loves the young blacksmith Paavo. A cobbler dreaming of a cantor’s post, Paavo’s irreverent helper Risto, and the forthright maid Kirsti round out a lively village ensemble seeking the “right track” in life.

The opening of the play unfolds in Jukarainen’s cottage, where the vain cobbler Pokelainen boasts of his church singing and hints at a cantor’s career, Tahvanainen parades sanctimony, and Jukarainen plans Sohvi’s match over Maijastiina’s objections; Sohvi privately declares she cares for Paavo and refuses Tahvanainen. In the woods on the way to a dance, Paavo waits for Sohvi, wavers under Risto’s goading, drinks, and rashly taunts her, while Kirsti appears in tears after Tahvanainen has whipped and insulted her; Risto vows sobriety and urges her to sue him. Back home on the day of staged “engagement” festivities, Jukarainen insists on obedience, but Paavo returns sober to apologize and Sohvi states she never consented. Kirsti arrives to seek a formal summons against Tahvanainen, which jolts Jukarainen into dropping the match; when Tahvanainen blusters in, he is rebuffed, and the family announces Sohvi’s engagement to Paavo. Paavo asks to remain a smith rather than take over the farm, and Pokelainen—having failed in the cantor election—sets aside his pretensions and offers his congratulations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Kuopio: U. W. Telén & Co., 1901