Performances and exhibitions to enjoy during the weekend... Well-known actor Park Sang won's monologue 'Der Kontrabaß' on stage
  • 3 years ago
주말동안 즐길 공연 및 전시... 소외된 예술가의 애환 다룬 모노드라마 ‘콘트라바쓰’

It's Friday and that means we can now look ahead at some cultural events to brighten up our weekend.
Our culture correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has prepared a series of recommendations. So, Bo-kyoung what do you have for us?
Hi Conn-young,... with COVID-19 still affecting cultural events, performers also need to keep safe.
But there's one performer who doesn't have to worry about social distancing.
He is well-known actor Park Sang won, who, for the first time in his long career, took the challenging step of performing the monodrama 'Der Kontrabass', taking to the stage all by himself.
Let's take a look.
Only one actor is performing, yet his acting makes the stage seem full.
It has been almost 42 years since Park Sang won started out as an actor,... and now he is challenging himself to do something new: the monodrama.
A theatrical piece played by a single actor, a monodrama is often considered a mountain to climb for actors Mount Everest for Park Sang won.
His performance is based on 'Der Kontrabass', or 'The Double Bass', by German writer Patrick Suskind, who is best known for his novel 'Perfume'. But Park worked on the monologue for more than three years to make it his own.
"Suskind's works are popular in Korea... but the works are very metaphorical so I had difficulty in changing a literary piece to become theatrical."
The story depicts the sorrow of the protagonist who plays the double bass in a public orchestra.
He has great pride in the instrument,... yet the fact his playing is marginalized and he stands at the end of the row in the orchestra makes him lose his confidence.
To show the main character's unsociable lifestyle, Park brought his own furniture such as his worn-out chair and analog record player.
Yet as the play goes on,... this excluded, timid man builds up his courage and decides to confess his love towards a beautiful soprano.
The actor says such drama along with fitting music could deliver hope to those who feel excluded.
"The drama starts with Brahms' Symphony No. 2 Allegro non troppo meaning fast, but not too fast as if to depict the character's timid and cautious manner. It ends with Schubert's Piano Quintet Allegro vivace fast and faster showing his brave decision."
The show runs until November 29th at Seoul Arts Center and the actor says he is going to keep pushing harder to portray the alienated artist's life.
Sounds fascinating. Are there any other cultural events that viewers might be interested in this weekend?
Sure, to celebrate the 2-hundred-and-tenth anniversary of the birth of Romantic-era composer Chopin, three international award-winning pianists are going to play Chopin's works at LOTTE Concert Hall.
At the National Theater of Korea, the National Dance Company of Korea will present dances based on traditional Korean farm rhythms, known as Chilchae.
It is said to be "more energetic than rock concerts" so those who want to see an exciting show should not miss it...
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