Savoring the rewardsof a long life

Like all alternative theater events, Formosa Experimental Theater Festival is dominated by young graduate students in the cast and crew and a performance style unique to the MTV generation. Uhan Shii Theater Group (歡喜扮戲團), which is going to perform this weekend in the Experimental Theater as part of the festival, is thus quite the exception. Averaged 57 year old, untrained in theatrical theories and living far away from Taiwan's cultural capital, Uhan Shii's amateur actors are no less captivating on stage in their own way than performers of a younger generation.

Established by Peng Ya-ling (彭雅玲) in Tainan in 1993, Uhan Shii (meaning happiness and cheerfulness) was and remains Taiwan's only narrative history theater group, in which the performers tell touching true stories about other people's lives or in their own. Performing in Taiwanese, the group has drawn upon such themes as the wandering life of entertainers, the traditional role of women in Taiwan, and how different racial groups see the country's past ? subjects particular to Taiwanese society.

Uhan Shii first performed Salt and MSG Ⅱ (鹽巴與味素) in 1995, when these retirees and housewives were still shy on stage and quivered when reciting their lines. Having performed more than 300 shows since then, the audience should expect to see a transformed version of the play.

The story centers on the daily life of an old couple living in a southern Taiwanese village. The contradictory attitudes toward relationships held by elderly Taiwanese --expecting lasting romance in life while spending their days quarrelling about trivial things with each other -- are portrayed positively. The little squabbles between husband and wife are like salt and MSG in dishes. The right amount of them makes life more savory, Peng said.

Salt and MSG Ⅱ will be performed 7:30pm today and tomorrow. Matinee performances will be held tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are NT$450 and are available direct from the venue.