Theater
Men in Tutus comes to town for those looking for serious ballet that doesn’t take itself seriously. The world’s largest all-male comedy ballet company, Les Ballets Grandiva from New York, has generated rave reviews for brilliant choreography, excellent technique and the sheer entertainment of watching men dressed as ballerinas dancing classics such as Swan Lake.
■ Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City
(台北市仁愛路四段505號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,600, available through ERA ticketing or online at www. ticket.com.tw
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Taipei Crossover Dance Company (臺北越界舞團) presents Time Hotel (越界15—時光旅社), a locker-room detective story where each of the company’s performers has his or her moment as a lead. The first-rate production crew includes theater director Michael Li (黎煥雄) and fashion designer Sophie Hong (洪麗芬). [See story on Page 13.]
■ Taipei National University of the Arts — Dance Theater (國立台北藝術大學舞蹈廳), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT600 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Riverbed Theatre Company (河床劇團) presents Electric X!, an audio-visual feast devoid of language and story. The performance — which is off-limits to people aged under 16 — speaks to the subconscious and is designed to be felt rather than understood.
■ Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號)
■ Today at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Cat Man (貓神) is the latest work by Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group (明華園戲劇總團). The Taiwanese operatic production tells a story of individual heroism in the face of institutional injustice through Cat Man, a Robin Hood-like character by night and young politician by day.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Godot Theatre Company’s (果陀劇場) The 39 Steps (步步驚笑) is a comedic espionage thriller adapted from the novel of the same title by John Buchan. The star-studded cast includes veteran thespians Chin Shih-chieh (金士傑) and Tien Hsin (天心) and television and theater actors Pu Hsueh-liang (卜學亮) and Renzo Liu (劉亮佐). The four play a total of 48 characters in the Chinese adaptation of the play. This is the first major Broadway production licensed in Chinese while the original continues to run in New York and London.
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Cello & Piano Classics From the Nineteenth Century — Dialogue Between Thomas Landschoot and Wang Liang-yu (十九世紀大提琴與鋼琴之歌《湯瑪斯蘭舒與王亮予的音樂對話》) presents cellist Thomas Landschoot performing a program that includes works by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Chopin, with Wang Liang-yu (王亮予) on piano.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
A Night at the Opera (『蝙蝠』華麗選秀歌劇之夜) has some of Taiwan’s top operatic talent featured together with the Taipei Philharmonic Opera Studio (台北愛樂歌劇坊), Taipei Philharmonic Theater (台北愛樂劇工廠), Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) and Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (台北愛樂青年管弦樂團) under the baton of Chun-Chiang Chiu (邱君強). Arias to be presented include a good dose of Johann Strauss, mixed with Bizet, Mozart, Gounod and Puccini.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Lover’s Discourse: Transfigured Night (NSO室內樂─戀人絮語之「昇華之夜」) is a program presented by the National Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Orchestra and featuring works by Dvorak, Glinka and Schoenberg.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese bands and international acts. Appearing tonight is off-the-wall pop rocker R.Chord (謝和弦) and his band Sea Level (海平面樂團). Legendary pub songstress Tiger Huang (黃小琥) appears tomorrow night. [See story above.] On Wednesday reggae rockers Matzka and Di Hot make their weekly appearance, along with ska band Skaraoke.
■ 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ Entrance is NT$600 tonight, NT$1,200 tomorrow (NT$1,000 in advance) and NT$400 Wednesday. Prices include one drink. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw
All-girl band The Fen-Fens (紛紛樂團) celebrate their one year anniversary tonight at the The Wall (這牆). They open for another all-girl band, 8assion of Japan. Taking the stage tomorrow are power-pop band Mister Mouth (嘴哥) and emo-punks Punkhoo (胖虎). On Sunday it’s a trio of indie bands: electronica outfit Orange Doll (橘娃娃), Sorry Youth (拍謝少年) and low-key duo Zag Lope (柴可洛噗). On Wednesday the venue hosts American singer-songwriter Chris Garneau, whose baroque pop style has been featured on the television show Grey’s Anatomy. Folk group Smoke Ring (煙圈) opens the show.
■ 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
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$300 Sunday and NT$500 Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or
tickets.books.com.tw
Come on! Bay Bay! (來吧!焙焙!), which has an indie-pop sound along the lines of Belle and Sebastian, appears tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Also on the bill is acoustic folk group Xiaoyu Watermelon (小玉西瓜). Indie rockers Green!Eyes (綠色眼睛) take the stage tomorrow night. On Thursday it’s solo act Mia Tzeng (曾鈺婷) and Yanjue (嚴爵), who plays blues, funk and folk.
■ 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
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
The Taipei Youth Jazz Big Band (台北青年爵士大樂團) appears tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s pop singer Shino Lin (林曉培). Singer Devin Wu (吳佩珊) appears on Sunday, along with No Key Band. 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 9pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Monday’s open jam starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday
Pop singer Victor Wong (品冠) appears tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Shin (信), a pop singer who had a recent hit titled Take Advantage of Me (趁我), performs tomorrow night. Thursday features a trio of up-and-coming singers: GJ, Nese (倪子崗) and Freya (林凡).
■ 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 8:30pm tonight, tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight, NT$550 tomorrow and NT$400 Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie rockers Queen Suitcase(皇后皮箱) and 13 perform at Underworld (地下社會) tonight. Grunge rockers The Capelin (柳葉魚) play two sets tomorrow night. On Wednesday it’s emo-punks Full Count and Macbeth (馬克白).
■ 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 on Fridays and Saturdays is NT$300, which includes one drink, and NT$100 on Wednesdays
Earl Hines II Jazztet performs tonight at Sappho de Base. Dance tomorrow to the sounds of Space Funk and Gruveballs from Tainan. Italian Jazz drummer and composer Pietro Valente appears on Tuesday to perform songs from his CD, Tales from the Far East. [See story on Page 14.] Appearing on Wednesday is Girl and the Machine, a multimedia arts collective that combines electro-rock, space pop and ethnic music with video and photography. T and T Jazz Trio and Friends play on Thursday and host an open jam afterwards.
■ 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 10pm on Friday and Saturday and 9:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$100 tonight and NT$200 tomorrow, free on other nights
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 [See story above], Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北 市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: www.ez5.com.tw
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Tonight Roxy Roots, a bar and restaurant dedicated to reggae and blues fans, hosts expat electric funk-metal band Jindown (筋斗雲) and alt-rock band the Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦). Waysoon plays country, bluegrass and folk tomorrow night. Wednesday night is the venue’s musical showcase, featuring a roster of bands organized by a different musician every week. This week it’s hosted by Lanny Waugh of the Blues Vibrations. Thursday is Salsa and Mambo night with DJs Francisco and Daniel.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號), Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is free
The Mercury (水星酒館), a new club that opened a few months ago in Kaohsiung, features live music by indie bands. Solo singer and guitarist Seamas Manly plays rock tomorrow. Also appearing is indie-rock duo Dim Bulb.
■ 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 free
In the mainstream view, the Philippines should be worried that a conflict over Taiwan between the superpowers will drag in Manila. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr observed in an interview in The Wall Street Journal last year, “I learned an African saying: When elephants fight, the only one that loses is the grass. We are the grass in this situation. We don’t want to get trampled.” Such sentiments are widespread. Few seem to have imagined the opposite: that a gray zone incursion of People’s Republic of China (PRC) ships into the Philippines’ waters could trigger a conflict that drags in Taiwan. Fewer
March 18 to March 24 Yasushi Noro knew that it was not the right time to scale Hehuan Mountain (合歡). It was March 1913 and the weather was still bitingly cold at high altitudes. But he knew he couldn’t afford to wait, either. Launched in 1910, the Japanese colonial government’s “five year plan to govern the savages” was going well. After numerous bloody battles, they had subdued almost all of the indigenous peoples in northeastern Taiwan, save for the Truku who held strong to their territory around the Liwu River (立霧溪) and Mugua River (木瓜溪) basins in today’s Hualien County (花蓮). The Japanese
Pei-Ru Ko (柯沛如) says her Taipei upbringing was a little different from her peers. “We lived near the National Palace Museum [north of Taipei] and our neighbors had rice paddies. They were growing food right next to us. There was a mountain and a river so people would say, ‘you live in the mountains,’ and my friends wouldn’t want to come and visit.” While her school friends remained a bus ride away, Ko’s semi-rural upbringing schooled her in other things, including where food comes from. “Most people living in Taipei wouldn’t have a neighbor that was growing food,” she says. “So
Whether you’re interested in the history of ceramics, the production process itself, creating your own pottery, shopping for ceramic vessels, or simply admiring beautiful handmade items, the Zhunan Snake Kiln (竹南蛇窯) in Jhunan Township (竹南), Miaoli County, is definitely worth a visit. For centuries, kiln products were an integral part of daily life in Taiwan: bricks for walls, tiles for roofs, pottery for the kitchen, jugs for fermenting alcoholic drinks, as well as decorative elements on temples, all came from kilns, and Miaoli was a major hub for the production of these items. The Zhunan Snake Kiln has a large area dedicated