American playwright, director and actor Israel Horovitz will give a talk Saturday afternoon at OCAT Shenzhen in OCT-LOFT. The talk is in English and Chinese interpretation will be provided.

    Horovitz’s best-known play “Line” has been adapted by Shenzhen Fat Bird Troupe into a Mandarin play and will be staged April 5-8 at Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center.

    Written by Horovitz in 1967, the original “Line” is an absurdist drama about five people waiting in line for an event. It was never made clear what the event is. Several of the characters’ stated expectations contradict the others. The characters use their wiles in an attempt to be first in line, getting more and more vicious as the play continues. The play is the longest-running play in Manhattan and the longest-running Off-Broadway show on the boards, having played continuously at the 13th Street Repertory Theater since 1974.

    The Mandarin adaptation is the first authorized adapted performance in China and it will present audience members an absurd resonation of “being first in anything” in human behavior.

    Yang Qian, the artistic director of Shenzhen Fat Bird Troupe, and American anthropologist Mary Ann O’Donnell will also join the talk.

    Time: 3-5 p.m., April 2

    Venue: OCAT, South Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城创意文化园南区OCAT深圳馆)

    Metro: Luobao Line, Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A(SD News)