Theater
Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group
(莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團) and theater director Wang Chia-ming (王嘉明) are reviving Michael Jackson, which played to a full house when it premiered in 2005. The King of Pop’s Thriller (1984), Bad (1988) and Dangerous (1991) thread the narrative together.
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂),
98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tonight at 7:45pm, tomorrow at 2:45pm and 7:45pm, Sunday at 2:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Part of the 12th Taipei Arts Festival
(第十二屆台北藝術節), Lipsynch by French Canadian director Robert Lepage is an eight-and-a-half hour-long theatrical epic that weaves together the life stories of nine characters across seven decades and four countries. Weekend “marathon” performances include four intermissions and a 45-minute dinner break. The play can also been seen in three separate segments, each of which runs two-and-a-half hours.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 1pm, Tuesday through Thursday at 7:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$3,400 and NT$4,200 for weekend performances, NT$1,200 and NT$1,500 for weekday shows, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
8213 Physical Dance Theater (8213肢體舞蹈劇場) presents Ripple Effect (漣漪效應), a dance performance that combines physical grace with digital technology. [See storty on Page 14.]
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through available through
NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
VM Theatre Company’s (耀演) musical Daylight tells the story of five young urbanites who cross paths at a night club. The production is in Chinese with English subtitles.
■ Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場), 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路120巷50號)
■ Tonight and Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Performed as part of the 2010 Kaohsiung Theater Festival (2010正港小劇展), The Dragon Chasers
(尋龍之音) by Sun Son Theatre (身聲劇場) tells the story of three young warriors who follow a dragon into a world of myth, legend and magic. Like the company’s previous productions, The Dragon Chasers is a fusion of modern theater, dance, chant and world music.
■ Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區), 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300, available
through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
As part of the International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦CHOPIN國際音樂節), pianist An Ning (安寧) will perform a selection of impromptus, rondos and mazurkas by Chopin in two concerts, one in Taipei, the other in Taichung.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Taipei) and Wednesday at 7:30pm (Taichung)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000 (Taipei) and NT$350 to NT$1,000 (Taichung), available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw. Also available through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks
Hu Ching-yun & Evergreen Symphony Orchestra Concert (英雄浪漫琴懷 — 胡云與長榮交響樂團) presents young Taiwanese pianist Hu Ching-yun (胡云) performing a program that includes Weber’s Oberon overture, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben. She will be performing with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) under Gernot Schmalfuss. [See story above.]
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw. Also available through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks
Chou Chun-shiang Double Bass Recital (周春祥低音提琴獨奏會) has double bassist Chou Chun-shiang (周春祥) showing off the range of an instrument that is normally relegated to a supporting role. The program includes music by Hans Fryba, Gottfried von Einem, Norbert Sprongl and Fritz Lietermeyer. Chou will be accompanied on piano by Lin Hui-ying (林慧英).
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight features a lineup of four groups: emo-punks Punkhoo (胖虎), all-girl rock band Cherry Boom (櫻桃幫), metal-core/emo band 831 (八三夭), and aspiring Mando-pop and R ‘n’ B group Magic Power (魔幻力量). No shows are scheduled for tomorrow as of press time. On Sunday it’s rap act Nan Quan Mama (南拳媽媽), which opens for local rock guitar hero Marty Young (楊沛霖). Indie band Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子) and funk rock group Coach (教練樂隊) take the stage on Wednesday.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight and Sunday, 8:30pm on Wednesday
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight (NT$400 in advance), NT$800 on Sunday (NT$600 in advance) and NT$500
on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased at
ERA ticketing outlets, online
through www.ticket.com.tw or
www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Lin Zhe-yi (林哲儀), better known to partygoers as Mykal, spins tunes late tonight at The Wall (這牆). Also appearing is DJ NT89. Tomorrow Aboriginal folk artist Suming (舒米恩) makes an appearance to promote his new album [see story on Page 13]. On Sunday the venue hosts several well-established Japanese underground rock bands: girl punk legends Shonen Knife and indie punk band Bloodthirsty Butchers. Also appearing is Japanese post-rock group Mass of the Fermenting Dregs and two popular bands from Taiwan’s indie scene, Orangegrass (橙草樂團) and Boyz and Girl.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 11:30pm tonight, 8pm tomorrow, 6pm on Sunday
■ Entrance is NT$800 tonight (NT$500 in advance), NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance) and NT$1,300 for Sunday’s show (NT$1,000 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店) hosts a pair of solo performers who are banding together: guitarist Su-jer
(舒吉吉) and singer-songwriter Anie Fann (范安婷). Tomorrow Mando-pop songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) performs with New York jazz pianist Alex Pryrodny. On Thursday German expat Santa Klaus and Taipei Blues take the stage.
■ 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts rock and fusion group E Zzy Band. Tomorrow folk rocker Elisa Lin (林依霖) shares the bill with Rock Bang (洛客班). On Sunday it’s saxophone and bass duo Men’s Ride (旋律的馳客). The venue hosts its weekly open jam on Monday.
■ 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 all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance is NT$400 tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts One Million Star (超級星光大道) finalist Pets Tseng (曾沛慈). Tomorrow indie-pop mavens 1976 take the stage. On Sunday it’s Shanghai native Sasha Li (李婭莎), a runner-up from the fourth season of the Super Idol (超級偶像) TV show. Disco-rockers Cosmos People (宇宙人) appear on Wednesday.
■ 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, 7:30pm Sunday and 8pm on Wednesday
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow, NT$400 Sunday and NT$400 on Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts Penguinbear Likes to Eat Chicken Ball (企鵝熊愛吃雞肉球) and Posh Inverse (優雅逆轉). Tomorrow Tokyo J-rock outfit Doburoku opens and serves as a backing band for female indie singer Matuzaki Nao. On Wednesday it’s experimental
electronica act Shishukong (屍術控) and Honeysuckle.
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink, and NT$100
on Wednesdays
French expat jazz trombonist Oliver Baron leads his quartet tonight at Sappho de Base, the late-night lounge bar and hangout for musicians from Taipei’s jazz and blues scene. Tomorrow the Jason Hayashi Quartet takes the stage. On Tuesday it’s Emo Jazz Trio, on Wednesday, Ash and Friends perform on “unorthodox instruments.” Fusion Planet performs 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 tonight and tomorrow and 10pm on all other nights
■ Entrance is NT$150 tonight and NT$100 tomorrow, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) and male crooner
Shin Lung (辛隆), 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: 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
Tonight Roxy Roots hosts rock cover band Rubber Band. Tomorrow
night is an evening of roots, reggae and dub with Zion Express, Otaku3, Mary Bites Kerry, DJ @llenblow and DJ Shorty.
■ 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 tonight, midnight tomorrow
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300 (NT$200 credited toward food and drinks)
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Capone’s, with live music from blues band BoPoMoFo
(ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels are welcome, and beginner’s lessons
are offered while the band takes a break. Tomorrow it’s light rock music from Supernova.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays there’s a minimum charge of one drink and dancers receive a free drink coupon. On Saturdays the minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight features a trio of Japanese groups: girl punk legends Shonen Knife, indie punk band Bloodthirsty Butchers and Japanese post-rock group Mass of the Fermenting Dregs. Also part of the bill is Taiwanese indie group Orangegrass (橙草樂團). Tomorrow it’s post-rock group Bugs of Phonon (聲子蟲) and Hoklo-singing indie rockers Windmill (風籟坊).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 6:30pm tonight and 7:30pm tomorrow
■ Entrance is NT$800 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow
Tomorrow at The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung,
it’s Taichung all-girl punk band
BB Bomb (BB彈).
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby
April 22 to April 28 The true identity of the mastermind behind the Demon Gang (魔鬼黨) was undoubtedly on the minds of countless schoolchildren in late 1958. In the days leading up to the big reveal, more than 10,000 guesses were sent to Ta Hwa Publishing Co (大華文化社) for a chance to win prizes. The smash success of the comic series Great Battle Against the Demon Gang (大戰魔鬼黨) came as a surprise to author Yeh Hung-chia (葉宏甲), who had long given up on his dream after being jailed for 10 months in 1947 over political cartoons. Protagonist
Peter Brighton was amazed when he found the giant jackfruit. He had been watching it grow on his farm in far north Queensland, and when it came time to pick it from the tree, it was so heavy it needed two people to do the job. “I was surprised when we cut it off and felt how heavy it was,” he says. “I grabbed it and my wife cut it — couldn’t do it by myself, it took two of us.” Weighing in at 45 kilograms, it is the heaviest jackfruit that Brighton has ever grown on his tropical fruit farm, located