The Good Family

Synopsis

A picture-perfect suburban garden on a warm June evening, where the scent of flowers mingles with the song of thrushes, and a family’s living room is visible through French windows.

Lasse and Eva, along with their children Janne and Lena, embody the ideal of a perfect family. As they go about their evening routine of dinner, presents, and games, each interaction is marked by excessive politeness, constant praise, and an almost surreal level of contentment with their lives and each other.

Pirinen’s play is a satirical exploration of the concept of the perfect family, pushing the boundaries of happiness and harmony to absurd extremes. Through exaggerated dialogue and impossibly positive reactions to every situation, The Good Family challenges our notions of normality and the societal pressure to present an image of perpetual bliss. The play’s humour derives from its relentless positivity, even in the face of potentially challenging revelations. By presenting a family that seems to exist in a state of permanent, unquestioning happiness, Pirinen invites the audience to reflect on the authenticity of relationships and the often unrealistic expectations placed on family life in modern society.