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Performance Workshop's (表演工作坊) newest play, Like Shadows (如影隨形), was a huge hit with audiences when it opened last Friday night. The 150-minute play, written and directed by Stan Lai (賴聲川), is billed as a detective story and follows the life of a young girl who comes to terms with her family's bizarre past. The story, with its mixture of pathos and humor, kept audiences laughing and crying in their seats. Living up to his reputation as one of Taiwan's top theater impresarios, Lai created a visual feast that included dazzling lighting and a set that mimics the tempo of the detective story genre. Designed by Hu En-wei (胡恩威), the set features two large white walls that move to stage left and right. Moving the walls unveils new scenes and gradually reveals the family's mysterious past until the last movement when the different strands of the play are brought together in a denouement that any chief of police would find satisfying. ▲National Theater, Taipei City ▲Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm; special New Years Eve performance at 9pm ▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw |
Theater
Renowned French stage director Ariane Mnouchkine and her 60-member troupe, Theater du Soleil, will perform Theatre du Soleil Les Ephemeres, a six-and-a-half-hour show in French with Chinese subtitles on a revolving stage under a huge canopy with 600 seats. The canopy, brought in from France, is being set up in the plaza between the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. Les Ephemeres, described by critics as an elegy to the ephemeral quality of human existence, has two parts, each lasting 3 hours and 15 minutes. The show consists of 50 personal stories that work like small threads woven together into a fabric of love, friendship, conflict and farewells in communal life.
▲Plaza between the National Theater and National Concert Hall
▲ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$1,800 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Long-term Taipei residents often remember with fondness the exotic China Plaza (中華商場) before it was torn down in the 1980s. The market has now become part of the setting for Ping Fong Acting Troupe's (屏風表演班) play Apocalypse of Beijing Theater (京戲啟傺). The work combines writer/director Hugh Lee's (李國修) childhood experiences with the market as a backdrop, his relationship with his father and the day-to-day reality of running a theater group. Li's father was a famous haberdasher for Beijing opera companies, which allowed the writer free rein to explore the operatic tradition throughout the 20th century.
▲Taipei Cultural Center (台北市立社教館), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
▲Today, tomorrow and Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm; special New Year's Eve (Monday) performance at 9pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, except Wednesday night, NT$1,200 to NT$2,500. Tickets are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
P.I.G. by Morning Star Theater (晨星劇團) tells the story of how the inhabitants of a quiet village in the middle of a forest encounter a natural disaster and manage to pull through by pooling their resources.
▲Chungli Arts Center (中壢藝術館音樂廳), 16 Chungmei Rd, Chungli City (中壢市中美路16號)
▲Tonight at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
2007 Classical Music Festival Series Three - Tien Yun Chamber Orchestra Annual Thanksgiving Concert (2007世紀古典音樂節系列三 - 天韻室內樂團年度感恩音樂會) will feature visiting violinists Vladimir Klochko and Irina Kuchynskaya, and cellist and conductor Arkadi Kuchynski. The program will include many well-known pieces ranging from Vivaldi to Mozart to Kreisler and Villa-Lobos.
▲Tomorrow 7:30pm
▲Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中中山堂) at 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing
The King of Western Qin (西秦王爺), a concert of classical Chinese music by the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra (高雄市國樂團) will feature soloists Shui Wen-chun (水文君), Chen Yi-chien (陳怡蒨) and Peng Li-ting (彭苙榳).
▲Sunday 7:30pm
▲Kaohsiung's Chih-Teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$300 and are available through ERA ticketing
2007 Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra New Year's Eve Concert - Searching for Impressions of Spain (2007 高市交跨年音樂會 - 尋找西班牙印象), will feature the orchestra performing with pianist Chen Wei-ying (陳偉茵) and an appearance by the Kaohsiung City Ballet (高雄城市芭蕾舞團). The program will include Sebelius' Finlandia, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.16, and Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole and Bolero.
▲Monday, 7:30pm
▲Kaohsiung's Chih-Teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800 and are available through ERA ticketing
The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) will present two New Year concerts at the National Concert Hall, Taipei City. The first, featuring violin soloist Lin Cho-liang (林昭亮), will be conducted by Wang Ya-huei (王雅蕙) and will include works of Bach, Grieg and Beethoven. The second will feature pianist Fan Chiang-yi (范姜毅) and will include works by Stravinsky, Mozart and Brahms.
▲Wednesday and Friday at 7:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000 for Wednesday's concert and NT$500 to NT$1,500 for Friday's concert
2008 New Year's Concert of the Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan Soloists (2008新年音樂會 - 台灣獨奏家室內樂團) will perform a selection of popular works including La Boheme and The Sound of Music. The orchestra will be joined by tenor Huang Chung-teh (黃忠德) and soprano Lin Yi-chen (林怡真).
▲Tuesday 7:30pm (Kaohsiung) and Thursday 7:30pm (Taipei)
▲Kaohsiung's Chih-Teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 for both concerts and are available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Underworld (地下社會) celebrates the New Year in style with a series of hard-hitting shows. Tonight, all-girl industrial band Go Chic shakes things up with alt-rock/electronica act The Shine & Shine & Shine & Shine. Punks Fire Ex (滅火器), heavy metal warriors Triple Six (666) and Catcher in the Rye (麥田捕手) induce tinnitus tomorrow night. Sunday, New Year's Eve, will be a party to remember, with the controlled chaos of experimental industrial/trance metal act Fish and the Bedroom Riot (Fish的床上暴動), indie-electronica group Digihai, talented veteran rock showmen 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽), and Soft Spot. The music takes an electronic turn on Monday with DJs Chou, Cheng-wen (成文) and Zephec, and featuring multimedia support from VJs Rita and Ching (慶). Then on Wednesday, it's Brooklyn, New York ambient/experimental group The Shooting Star Experiment of Lights, along with Touming Magazine (透明雜誌).
▲B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
▲Bands start playing after 9pm. The bar is open daily from 8pm
▲NT$500 cover charge on New Year's Eve includes two free drinks; entrance for all other shows is NT$300 and includes one free drink
Political punks Consider the Meek and garage-rock band Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢) perform tonight at APA Lounge 808 in Ximending, along with Random and Evenfall.
▲7:30pm tomorrow
▲Entrance is NT$200
▲6F, 152, Zhonghua Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市中華路一段152號6樓). Call (02) 2381-5378 for more information
Consider the Meek also performs on New Year's Eve at Chaos Livehouse.
▲Monday, 8pm
▲Entrance is NT$350
▲2, Alley 29, Ln 205, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段205巷29弄2號)
Indie-electronica band Digihai and Brit-pop act 1976 play this evening at the Xue Xue Institute (學學文創志業). Later tonight, it's critically acclaimed post-rock group Sugar Plum Ferry.
▲Digihai and 1976 play from 5:30pm to 7:30pm tonight; Sugar Plum Ferry plays from 9:30pm to 11:30pm tonight
▲Tickets are NT$500 for both shows
▲207, Tiding Blvd Sec 2, Neihu Dist, Taipei City (台北市內湖區堤頂大道二段207號). Log on at www.xuexue.tw/events/pm/opening.html for information on these and upcoming performances and links to the online ticket vendor
Tonight at Bliss, it's The Originals, a cover band with "a license to rock and a permit to roll," followed by acoustic/folk singer-songwriter Reider (see story on Page 15 of today's Taipei Times.) Tomorrow is an all-acoustic night with solo acts Chris Huskey, Matt Nicodemus and Chris Thomson. Then on New Year's Eve, it's Consider the Meek, The Deadly Vibes, New Hong Kong Hair City, and the Rock and Roll Dance Party (see story on Page 13 for more details).
▲148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com
▲The music starts at 10pm
▲Entrance to the bar is free. Cover for the shows upstairs is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow. NT$500 on New Year's Eve
Post-rock group Orange Grass (橙草) and alt-rockers Peppermint (薄荷葉) warm up the crowd at The Wall (這牆) tonight for indie/major singer/songwriter Deserts Chang (張懸) and her band. Indie-rock bands Bear Babes (熊寶貝), Echo (回聲) take to the stage tomorrow, followed by the main event, Tizzy Bac. The music continues Sunday with veteran indie acts Telephone Booth (電話亭), Nylas and Miss Silk Stockings (絲襪小姐). Ringing in the New Year are garage-rock band Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢), indie-electronica band Orange Doll (橘娃娃), punks Fire Ex (滅火器) and post-rock group Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號). Golden Melody award-winning folk-rock act Sodagreen (蘇打綠) perform on New Year's Day.
▲B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲Performances start at 8pm all days except New Year's Day, when tickets go on sale at 3:30pm and the music starts at 4pm
▲Admission and one free drink are NT$500 except New Year's Day, when it's NT$[TK]
Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), the veteran studio musicians of RAY Band (雷樂隊) play their own power rock originals and cover rock 'n' roll greats like Deep Purple, Bad Company, Jeff Beck, The Beatles and Stevie Wonder. Tomorrow, Riverside celebrates its seventh anniversary with indie-rock band Jacuzzi, girl alt-rockers Cherry Boom (櫻桃幫) and the recently regrouped Wizard of Oz (綠野仙蹤). On Sunday, indie-rock bands Love Manana (愛的大未來) and the Martians (火星人) ring in the New Year. Then, on New Year's Day, it's the Riverside All-Star Band (跨年爵士大融合), led by club owner and virtuoso guitarist Geddy Lin (林正如). Long-serving underground rockers Champion (強辯) take to the stage on Tuesday; indie-rockers Red Flower (紅花) and Nekojamband (妮可醬), which mixes styles ranging from funk and blues to hard rock, plays Wednesday; and on Thursday it's Mama Panai (巴奈) and 831.
▲B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
▲Shows start at 9:30pm
▲Cover charge, including one drink is NT$400 today, tomorrow and Tuesday; NT$350 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday; NT$500 (includes one drink) or NT$600 (includes two drinks) Monday
Living Room (小客廳) presents Ai Ching (艾青) and her band tonight. G Spin Band (橘子皮樂團) plays on New Year's Eve.
▲3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
▲9pm to 11pm tonight; 10:30pm to 12:30am on New Year's Eve
▲NT$300 minimum charge tonight and on New Year's Eve. Suggested donation is NT$100 tonight and NT$50 on New Year's Eve
Wang Jun-jie (王俊傑) performs tonight at Witch House (女巫店).
▲7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
▲Tonight at 9:30pm
▲NT$300 entrance includes one drink
In Taichung, it's Salsa Night tonight at Grooveyard, a non-smoking event with professional instructors who teach salsa and merengue to the tune of Cuban music. The venue is closed on New Year's Eve. Russell Rogers plays flamenco and bouzouki on Wednesday, which is ladies night. Thursday is acoustic jam and open-mic night.
▲2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung City (台中市華美西街105號2樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
▲Tonight's salsa runs from 8pm to 10pm. Tomorrow's Word Alive 2 starts at 7:30pm, then Rogers plays from 10:30pm. Wednesday's music is from 10pm to midnight. Thursday's open mic starts at 9pm
▲NT$500 donation for the charity gig includes buffet and one drink. There's no cover charge for the other events
89k hosts Rolling Star tonight, I Love Blue Girl tomorrow, and heavy metal band Chrome Relic on New Year's Eve.
▲21 Daguan Rd, Taichung City (台中市大觀路21號). Call (04) 2320-7010 for more information
▲The music starts at 10pm
▲NT$250 admission tonight and tomorrow; NT$500 on New Year's Eve
Exhibition
Heaven-Sent Conveyances: Highlights of Ch'ing Historical Documents (奉天承運 - 清代歷史文書珍品展) is a new series of exhibitions designed by the Books and Documents Department of the National Palace Museum that seeks to answer many questions about the workings of the Qing Dynasty administration in China and Taiwan. The exhibition features government memorandums and imperial edicts dealing with important historical events. As of last week, this exhibition will be a permanent part of the museum's display, but due to conservation requirements, the exhibits will be changed every three months. Heaven-Sent Conveyances is comprised of four sections: Imperial Mandates, Memorials, Official Documents and Historiographical Compilations, and Archival and Illustrated Materials on Taiwan Aborigines.
The T'ien-lu Lin-lang Library: Treasured Rare Books of the Ch'ing Inner Court (天祿琳琅:乾隆御覽之寶) is another new exhibition focusing on documents, in this case telling the story of a special part of the Qing Court. Originally the library was the site of the Kangxi emperor's (1662-1722) daily activities and studies and contained many books and other treasures belonging to the emperor.
▲National Palace Museum at 221, Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Shilin Dist, Taipei City (台北市士林區至善路二段221號)
▲Open from 9am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 8:30pm. Call (02) 2881-2021
▲Permanent collection; until June 30
The Glory of History - A Retrospective of 60 Years' Taiwan Provincial Exhibition of Fine Arts (歷史的光輝 - 全省美展60回顧展) is a look at the works featured in the Taiwan Provincial Exhibition of Fine Arts competition over the last 60 years and a review of how the art scene has changed over this period. The show, organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立台灣美術館), contains interviews with over 30 artists and scholars and examines the artistic influences that have had the most significant impact on Taiwan.
▲Taiwan Architecture, Design and Art Center (設計與建築展演中心, TADA), B11 Auditorium, at 362, Fuhsing Rd Sec 3, Taichung City (台中市復興路三段362號)
▲Open from 9am to 5pm. Call the Museum at (04) 2372-3552 for more information
▲Until Feb. 12
The Dance of Light and Shadow - Contemporary Glass Art by Seguso (光影之舞 - 義大利名家瑟古索現代玻璃藝術大展) features work by the renowned Italian artist who primarily worked with glass and the interaction of glass and light. This show is regarded as one of the most important exhibitions of Livio Seguso's career and contains 52 of his most representative works for each of his creative periods and 30 paintings and sketches.
▲National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館) at 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei City (台北市南海路49號)
▲Open from 10pm to 6pm, closed Mondays. Extending Saturday opening to 8:30pm. Call: (02) 2361-0270
▲Until Feb. 10
Elopement Desire (慾望私奔), a photographic study of the female body and sexuality features the work of many young local artists.
▲Hsinbin Wharf Arts Space (新濱碼頭藝術空間) at 2F, 64 Dayung Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市大勇路64號2F)
▲Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 7pm; call: (07) 533-2041
▲Until Jan. 6
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
Taiwan’s post-World War II architecture, “practical, cheap and temporary,” not to mention “rather forgettable.” This was a characterization recently given by Taiwan-based historian John Ross on his Formosa Files podcast. Yet the 1960s and 1970s were, in fact, the period of Taiwan’s foundational building boom, which, to a great extent, defined the look of Taiwan’s cities, determining the way denizens live today. During this period, functionalist concrete blocks and Chinese nostalgia gave way to new interpretations of modernism, large planned communities and high-rise skyscrapers. It is currently the subject of a new exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Modern
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and