And it's not just the number of players that are shrinking, audiences sizes have decreased, especially compared to the golden days of gezai decades ago.
Tang is the daughter of Chiang Wu-tong (蔣武童), Taiwan's most famous Taiwanese opera performer during a time, decades ago, when local gezai figures were put on the same pedestal as movie stars. She knew from an early age that she wanted to follow his footsteps on the stage. She's now equaled her father's success -- indeed, World of Crooks opens in the same month that a book about her, The Prima Donna of Taiwanese Opera (胭脂紅), hits bookstore shelves.
But her success comes at a time when demand for Taiwanese opera has diminished. What are her plans for bringing it back?
"I ask young people why they don't come see gezai opera and they tell me, `All that ever happens is people crying and crying. It's boring.' So I say to them, `If I give you something cool and new, will you come?' And, yes, they've started coming."
She continued, "To keep audiences interested, we have to keep ourselves as performers interested, and that means constantly challenging ourselves to innovate."
For your information :
WHAT: World of Crooks, by the Tang Mei-yun Taiwanese Opera Company
WHEN: Tonight through Sunday, with performances at 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow and matinee performances at 2:30pm tomorrow and Sunday.
WHERE: Taipei National Theater, at the CKS Memorial Hall
TICKETS: Tickets cost between NT$400 and NT$2,000 and are available at the door. They can also be purchased through ERA Ticketing at 02 3393 9888 or online at http://www.artsticket.com.tw.
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