Now banned from performance in mainland China, The Bus Stop remains an influential text in Chinese absurdist drama.
The Carpenter adds that he's going to town to continue making fine furniture, and Glasses says he's on his way to take the college entrance exam.
While the Old Man and the Director Ma discuss cigarettes and language, Glasses begins studying American English words such as pig, dog, book, and desk.
Amidst scattered conversation, the Silent Man takes off walking towards the city – "a painful yet determined search."
As the Mother and Girl complain about having to wait for the bus, Glasses notices that his watch indicates that a year has passed.
The Director Ma claims that he was going into town for a party, but he can drink booze at home; he doesn't leave the bus stop, however.
The Director Ma attempts to rally the troops to walk back to the country, but the Hothead insists on having a test of city yogurt.
As Glasses goes to take the Girl's hand, the Old Man suggests that the Hothead get a job as the Carpenter's apprentice, and the Mother recounts her story about a stranger in the rain.
Gao's collaborator and Deputy Director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Lin Zhaohua, directed the production.
[5] A reprisal of Bus Stop was then scheduled for a month later, but canceled due to controversy and a lack of support from the government.
[4] In June 2021, the Crane Creations Theatre Company led a Play Date of The Bus Stop.
A group of professional theatre artists discussed about the theme, style, form, and world issues related to The Bus Stop.
[8] Chekhov's plays also feature a desire for a better life through change in location, and Brecht uses a similar alienation effect.
In a very Brechtian way, Gao allows his characters to become actors in order for the audience to view the play with a critical and distant eye.
[7] Gao goes on to state that the music and sound effects are just as important as the dialogue, however he doesn't mention anything about set, costumes, or props.
Konstantin Stanislavski and Henrik Ibsen would show China in a good light; Gao's unpredictability would not.
When the Director Ma talks about giving cigarettes to the bus company, he is essentially a victim of this abusive backdoorism system.