'Already seen' local theater troupe

Taiwan's popular alternative theater troupe, The Creative Society (創作社), returns to the stage this weekend when it brings its latest production, Deja Vu (驚異派對 -- 夜夜夜麻2), to Taipei's Novel Hall.

Formed in 1997 by a group of playwrights, directors, actors and drama teachers, the Creative Society under the guidance of veteran theater director Li Huan-hsiung (黎煥雄) and playwright Wei Yin-juan (魏瑛娟), who later founded Shakespeare's Wild Sister Theatre Troupe, has built up a reputation as one of the nation's most malleable acting troupes.

Be it non-stylized and down-to-earth black comedies, or dreamy far fetched fantasies, the Creative Society has, over the past six years tackled them all and received rave reviews in the process.

The troupe initially made a name for itself as one of the first acting troupes to parody and ridicule Taiwanese society. Early productions such 1999's Kiss of Death and 2001's Utopia Ltd.were black comedies which parodied Taiwan society but also set out to ask questions apropos Taiwan's identity. The group has branched out in recent years, however, and tackled Shakespeare and has even dramatized a children's picture book.

For its latest production the group has returned to basics and is once again out to parody Taiwanese society with a vicious black comedy. In what is being billed as chapter two of Ji Wei-ran's (紀蔚然) 1997 production, Metamorphosis, Dejavu follows the trials and tribulations of four rather rude, uncaring and totally corrupted characters Mountain Pig (山豬) Big Cow (大牛), Little Horse (小馬) and Ah Chang (阿城) as they scheme and scam and come to terms with who and what they are.

The Creative Society will perform Deja Vu at Taipei's Novel Hall at 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22. There will be a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 23, which will begin at 2:30pm. Tickets cost between NT$450 to NT$1,200 and are available at Eslite bookstores and Acer ticketing outlets. For more information or to order tickets, call Creative Society at (02) 2723 7305.