Theater
After a performing career that has spanned 60 years, Taiwanese opera legend Liao Chiung-chih (廖瓊枝) is bowing out with The Virtuous Mother of General Tao Kan (陶侃賢母), which was tailor-made for the star. Three generations of local performers join Liao in the story about the filial General Tao Kan and his mother during the Jin Dynasty.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$5,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Creative Society Theatre Company (創作社劇團) presents Touch Me, If You Can (愛錯亂), a romantic comedy about a writer, college professor, stand-up comedian and spiritual guru.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$550, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taiwan Bangzi Company’s (台灣豫劇團) Bond (約/束) is a bangzi opera (梆子) (otherwise known as Henan opera or yu opera) adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Wang Hai-ling (王海玲) plays Shylock, which requires the opera diva to shift between different role types ranging from sheng (生), or leading male, to chou (丑), the clown.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A local rendition of Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s award-winning play of the same title, Speaking in Tongues tells of the oddly intertwined fates of nine characters, including two wives, each of whom cheats on her husband with the other’s spouse. The play is directed by theater veteran Michael Li (黎煥雄).
■ Eslite Xinyi Store (誠品信義店), 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei City (台北市松高路11號)
■ Tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available
through NTCH ticketing or online
at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Taipei Dance Circle (光環舞集) stages the final performance of its island-wide Silence Dance tour in Chiayi County tomorrow night. The nine-part dance piece centers on the troupe’s artistic director Liou Shaw-lu’s (劉紹爐) reflections on the global ecological crisis.
■ Chiayi Performing Arts Center (嘉義縣表演藝術中心演藝廳), 265, Jianguo Rd Sec 2, Minsyong Township, Chiayi County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Lang Lang — Rhapsody Charity Concert (郎朗.狂想—慈善音樂會) brings the world-renowned Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang (郎朗) to Taiwan to perform with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) and the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (台北市立國樂團) under conductor En Shao (邵恩). The program includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Chung Yiu-kwong’s (鍾耀光) Blessing for All (萬民祈福) for symphony orchestra and Chinese orchestra and The Yellow River Piano Concerto (黃河鋼琴協奏曲) arranged by Chung Yiu-kwang.
■ Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋), 2, Nanjing E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市南京東路四段2號)
■ Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$3,000, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Pipa Superstars in Taipei (琵琶巨星在台北) is a series of two concerts featuring the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (臺北市立國樂團) under Shao En (邵恩) performing with noted pipa (琵琶) soloists. In the first concert today, the soloist is Chang Chiang (張強), who won the 2009 Taipei Folk Music Competition in the pipa category. On Sunday, six other young pipa soloists will perform with the orchestra.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm and Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
2009 Taiwan Connection Music Festival featuring Hu Nai-yuan (胡乃元) and the Taiwan Connection Chamber Orchestra (TC室內樂團) begins another tour of Taiwan this Sunday in Yuanlin, followed by a concert in Jhongli on Thursday and finishing up in Taipei on Dec. 11. The program includes Haydn’s Symphony in G, No. 94, “Surprise”, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61.
■ Today (Yuanlin) and Thursday (Jhongli) at 7:30pm
■ Yuanlin Performance Hall (員林演藝廳), 99, Ln 2, Jhongjheng Rd, Yuanlin Township, Changhua County (彰化縣員林鎮中正路二巷99號) and Jhongli Arts Center (中壢藝術館), 16 Jhongmei Rd, Jhongli City, Taoyuan County (桃園縣中壢市中美路16號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Indie band Echo (回聲樂團) brings its stylish electro-rock to The Wall (這牆) tonight. Post-rockers Peppermint
(薄荷葉) hold a release party for their third CD tomorrow. On Sunday nouveau folk band Chun Zhi Band (江春枝) opens for Hakka singer-songwriter Lin Sheng-xiang (林生祥) and guitarist Ken Ohtake (大竹研). Wednesday’s lineup includes rockers Five in the Morning (清晨五點), Neon, the alt-rock group led by charismatic singer/songwriter Jun Lee (李昀熹), and electronica rock group Frande.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net:
www.thewall.com.tw
■ Music shows start at 8pm tomorrow, 7pm Sunday and 8pm Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow (includes CD), NT$300 on Sunday and Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw or
tickets.books.com.tw
Brother Fifth (搖滾點唱機五哥),
which is composed of two fingerstyle guitarists and a drummer, takes the stage tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Amis folk-rock musician Chalaw and his band Passiwali (巴西瓦里) appear tomorrow night.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net:
www.witchhouse.org
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entry for music shows is NT$300
A group of jazz regulars performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) for Electric Bass Music Show IV. Taiwan’s “little prince of R ’n’ B,” Afalean Lu (盧學叡), takes the stage tomorrow. Also appearing are Misike (柯泯薰) and D-Power. Folk-pop singer Europa Huang (黃建為) performs on Sunday, and Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow and Sunday. Open jam starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts Tuan Hsu-ming (段旭明), a singer featured on the TV reality show Super Idol (超級偶像). The venue hosts a different singer from the program for the next three Fridays. Mando-pop singer Shadya (藍又時) appears tomorrow night, and on Sunday local shredder Marty Young and his band play instrumental rock. On Thursday it’s folk rock from Miss Dessy and indie-rockers Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐).
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, 8:30pm tomorrow, Sunday and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$500 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, NT$500 on Sunday and NT$400 on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Girl-punk band Hot Pink opens up for Japanese emo band Don’t Turn Away tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow noise band She Bang-a (死蚊子) shares the bill with post-rock electronica band Lily et Coco. [See Highlight.]
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow, which includes one drink, NT$100 on Wednesday
Earl Hines II Jazztet performs tonight at Sappho de Base. Appearing tomorrow are New Orleans drummer and vocalist Nbugu Kenyatta and friends. On Tuesday there’s an open jam session with the venue’s “jazz friends,” and on Wednesday it’s bossa nova music from the Bossarela Trio. The Jason Hayashi Trio plays on Thursday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays. Closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is free
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include beloved female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Huang Chung-yuan (黃中原), who performs every Friday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
The Mercury (水星酒館), a new club that opened a few months ago in Kaohsiung, features live performances by indie bands. On the bill for tomorrow night is acoustic folk-pop group The Angles (角落).
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$100
Tomorrow at Taichung’s 89k, Paiwan singer Matzka and his rock-reggae band DeHot take to the stage, followed by DJ outift Colour Wolf.
■ 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
Roxy Roots, a bar and restaurant dedicated to reggae and blues, hosts Matzka and his rock-reggae band DeHot tonight. Tomorrow it’s expat rockers New Hong Kong Hair City and blues band The Green Machine.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Show starts at 9:30pm tomorrow
■ No entrance fee
Franz and Friends (城市舞台藝文沙龍), an upscale restaurant and performance space in Taipei’s East District (東區), hosts music shows every night. The music tends to play it safe, ranging from wistful love songs and opera to lounge jazz. Weekly highlights include Denise Juan (阮丹青), a former pop singer turned piano teacher and television presenter, and her band Sunshine Costa. They play tonight. Tomorrow it’s Buona Sera, featuring soprano Chang Hsiao-ni (張曉倪).
■ B1, 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City
(台北市八德路三段25號B1).
Tel: (02) 2579- 0558. On the Net: www.franzandfriends.com.tw
■ Minimum charge of NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, on other nights there’s a one-drink minimum
May 6 to May 12 Those who follow the Chinese-language news may have noticed the usage of the term zhuge (豬哥, literally ‘pig brother,’ a male pig raised for breeding purposes) in reports concerning the ongoing #Metoo scandal in the entertainment industry. The term’s modern connotations can range from womanizer or lecher to sexual predator, but it once referred to an important rural trade. Until the 1970s, it was a common sight to see a breeder herding a single “zhuge” down a rustic path with a bamboo whip, often traveling large distances over rugged terrain to service local families. Not only
Ahead of incoming president William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration on May 20 there appear to be signs that he is signaling to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that the Chinese side is also signaling to the Taiwan side. This raises a lot of questions, including what is the CCP up to, who are they signaling to, what are they signaling, how with the various actors in Taiwan respond and where this could ultimately go. In the last column, published on May 2, we examined the curious case of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) heavyweight Tseng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) — currently vice premier
The last time Mrs Hsieh came to Cihu Park in Taoyuan was almost 50 years ago, on a school trip to the grave of Taiwan’s recently deceased dictator. Busloads of children were brought in to pay their respects to Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正), known as Generalissimo, who had died at 87, after decades ruling Taiwan under brutal martial law. “There were a lot of buses, and there was a long queue,” Hsieh recalled. “It was a school rule. We had to bow, and then we went home.” Chiang’s body is still there, under guard in a mausoleum at the end of a path
Last week the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) released a set of very strange numbers on Taiwan’s wealth distribution. Duly quoted in the Taipei Times, the report said that “The Gini coefficient for Taiwanese households… was 0.606 at the end of 2021, lower than Australia’s 0.611, the UK’s 0.620, Japan’s 0.678, France’s 0.676 and Germany’s 0.727, the agency said in a report.” The Gini coefficient is a measure of relative inequality, usually of wealth or income, though it can be used to evaluate other forms of inequality. However, for most nations it is a number from .25 to .50