Chinese and French artists staged a "special" monolog in Beijing
Friday, each using his own languages.
The play, Mr. Armand, aka Garrincha, is a story about how a
passionate football fan Mr. Armand avoided a collision with
Garrincha and saved the Brazilian football star, as well as the
whole team under the same circumstances.
On stage, French actor Michel Didym and Chinese actor Wei
Xiaoping told the lines of the same meanings respectively in French
and Chinese. It's not just simple translation, but with eye
contacts, body gestures of communication. During the one and half
hours show, two chairs and shelves that hold the line scripts were
the only props and the lighting stayed the same throughout the
whole play.
"The Chinese actor showed more of a poetic sense during the
play, while the French actor more reality. I hope they will keep
their own styles and find a common ground in attracting more
audience attention," said Serge Valletti, the playwright and
director.
Monolog is a more common performance form in the west, which
usually stages in small to medium sized theatres. However it is
still a novelty in China.
The writer has brought his play to Brazil, Poland, Spain and
Britain, and each time inviting a local actor to play with the
French actor in two different languages.
Brazilian actor is passionate, British calm and Chinese focuses
more on the mind, Valletti said.
"An extra actor in the monolog adds a new option for the
audience to think," said Wei Xiaoping.
(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2006)
