In Walker Theater's new play Seven (七) it's the 1970s all over again,
except this time around the decade is an extension of the decadent
rebellion of the 1960s as opposed to its garishly attired hangover.
The play, by one of Taiwan's most innovative small theater groups, is
the story of seven young men united by their common interests in
theater, women, music and sex. Slackers to the last man, they form a
club with a name that is a play on words on the Chinese term for
"picking up chicks." They don't do anything in the club other than hold
amateurish discussions on theater accompanied by drink and drugs. It's a
time for the group to find total freedom.
The constant Beatles music sets a tragic tone though, because we know
that by the 1970s the Beatles have already split. Eventually, social
pressure and the young men's own ineptitude bring the group's freedom
to an end.
Seven is at moments funny, but director and scriptwriter Social Chang's
(張碩修) subject matter is not intended as a joke. This is a pity,
because the bellbottoms, butterfly collars and the motley group of young
men lend themselves to mockery. The humor is mostly in the actors'
hopeless attempts at dancing to Beatles tunes and the butchering of some
of that band's classics.
Walker Theater was founded in 1992 with the purpose of exploring a new
Taiwanese social consciousness through drama. True to the troupe's
purpose, Seven looks at the limits of freedom in a Taiwanese context and
uses almost exclusively Taiwanese in the script.
Seven will be performed tonight at 8pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 8pm and
Sunday at 2:30pm at the Young Lion's Art Center (幼獅藝術中心), located
at 133 Tunhua N. Rd. (敦化北路133號). Tickets cost NT$400, or NT$320 for
students and can be purchased at the door or through Acer Ticketing
Network.
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