`Chinese News Weakly' goes on stage on Red House

The "Chinese News Weakly" (給我報報), a popular column in local newspapers and magazines, satires the news of the week. For many readers, it is the first article to read for the laughs it offers. After 10 years of writing, the group of writers and journalists behind the column have decided to take their humor to the stage with the Chinese News Weakly Talk Show (給我報報脫口秀).

According to Neil Peng (馮光遠), senior writer and the creator of Chinese News Weakly, the stand-up comedy will provide answers to the questions that are closely related to people's lives.

Did you know that one day, when you draw cash at the ATM, it will be able to chat with you about the weather? Do you know why there are no venders selling car tires at night markets? And those vending carts with the loud speakers; how come they're all for window repair, not for computer repair?

Peng said there will be never-before-heard historical recordings broadcast on stage. "For example, the discussion between the generals when the Manchurians broke through the Great Wall and took over China. There will also be discussions among different colored socks," he said.

Peng said he wanted to present the Chinese News Weakly in a stand-up comedy version for a long time. "Taiwan has always lacked good stand-up comedy," Peng said.

The Chinese comic dialogue (相聲), is a kind of Chinese talk show, with two actors wearing long Chinese gowns, talking in Beijing accents. But the vocal techniques and the actors' word play are more emphasized than the content in such performances.

In the Chinese News Weakly Talk Show, the content will always be a parody of current issues or politics. Peng will have his own session, a news broadcast, in which he will be paired with a puppet dog named Mr Wang.

"In the past 10 years, we've set up a new style of satirizing news. Now we want to establish a new stand-up comedy style," Peng said.

The Chinese News Weakly Talk Show will go on stage at Red House on Friday, Sept. 19 at 8pm. Tickets cost NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing.