Double bass (play)

The work is built in the form of a one-act monologue of the protagonist - a 35-year-old double bass player who works in a state orchestra.

Despite the fact that Suskind's play is a “cry of the soul” of a person in a state of depression, the reader feels sympathy for the main character. This is expressed by the author’s humorous attitude, Patrick Suskind “almost double bass enjoyment of the language and weakness for losers and loners, recalls Chekhov” ( Marcel Reich-Ranitsky ).

Story

The writer uses contrasts in the work. So, at the beginning of the play, the main character convinces us that double bass is not justly considered one of the best musical instruments, that double bass players are not properly evaluated. He later admits that he hates his double bass, that this musical instrument cannot produce a single decent sound.

And we learn that double bass prevents the hero from living - he must take care of him as a living creature. Gradually, the double bass forced out from the life of its owner all other human relationships, even sexual ones. No changes can occur in his life, because he is occupied only by stable work in the state orchestra and music. He lost control of his own life.

And then the protagonist decides to decisively change his lonely everyday life: he likes the vocalist, who works with the orchestra in which the double bass player works. Of course, so far she has not noticed this, since the double bass players are sitting in the last row of the orchestra. At first, the hero tried to play flawlessly to attract her attention. However, even when he tried deliberately not to fall into the notes - still no one noticed anything, his meager role in the orchestra is so meager. And then the double bass player decides - he will shout out the name of his beloved to the whole theater. Only in this way can he attract attention.

Links

• Patrick Suskind Contrabass Folio, 2005
• Review of the work of Suskind (Ukrainian)