"The Double Bass" is a play that features just one actor, who interacts with his musical instrument. (Photo : Wikimedia)
"The Double Bass," also known by its original title "Der Kontrabass," a play by the German playwright and author Patrick Suskind that focuses on a lonely double bass player, was staged at the Beijing People's Art Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 4, captivating audiences with a play that features only one actor accompanied by one instrument.
The play is directed by Yang Yi from the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. It is part of a series of plays visiting Beijing from Oct. 12 to Nov. 15, as part of a celebration for the center's 20th-year anniversary.
"The Double Bass" is the first and most recognized play by Suskind, who is best known for writing the 1985 novel "Das Parfum," translated in English as, "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer."
The play is about a double bass player and his friendship with his musical instrument, as he discovers he is on the fringes of society due to not being sociable.
Critics have praised how the 90-minute performance has no shortage of riveting "dialogues," despite the one-man nature of the show.
Han Xiuyi, the actor for the performance, used body language and lines that put focus on the double bass as a literary device to express changes in emotion. This makes the instrument an effective supporting actor on stage.
The story of "The Double Bass" explores the deep pain that is felt by ordinary lonely people, making it suitable for small, intimate theaters.
"The Double Bass" will show until Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Beijing People's Art Theater.
