Theater
A Sandwich Husband (當岳母刺字時…媳婦是不贊成的), is the latest comedy by All U People Theatre (全民大劇團). It looks at the centuries-old rivalry between mothers and their daughters-in-law through a comic rendition of the historical story about Yue Fei (岳飛), the Southern Song Dynasty general noted for his loyalty to the emperor. The production stars acclaimed actresses Fang Fang (方芳) and Ann Lang (郎祖筠).
■ National Theater, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Taipei Dance Circle
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
Taipei Dance Circle’s (光環舞集) Suite 2011: That Time of the Pond (2011組曲：陂塘) is an imaginative journey back to village life of yore.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Free Journey (自由行) is a solo performance by Yu Shan-min (于善敏) that mixes Chinese opera, tango, rock ’n’ roll and bossa nova to tell the story of a traveler’s journey to the US following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
Tuesdays With Morrie, Godot Theatre’s (果陀劇場) newest production, is the stage adaptation of US author Mitch Albom’s 1997 memoir. In the best-selling work, Albom recounts the lessons he learned from visiting his former professor Morrie Schwartz, who was dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a terminal disease caused by the degeneration of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The cast is led by actor Chin Shih-chieh (金士傑) in the role of Morrie.
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Greater Taichung (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
Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group (莎士比亞的姐妹們的劇團) and theater director Wang Chia-ming (王嘉明) are reviving Michael Jackson — Back to the ‘80s, which played to a full house when it premiered in 2005. The King of Pop’s albums Thriller (1984), Bad (1988) and Dangerous (1991) thread the narrative together.
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihteh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Tsai Chia-hsuan Harpsichord Recital (蔡佳璇大鍵琴音樂會) sees local harpsichordist Tsai Chia-hsuan (蔡佳璇) performing a program of early French music including works by Jean-Francois Dandrieu, Francois Couperin, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Joseph Bodin de Boismortier.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$350 and NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Handbell Music From Hearts (天籟之音:一場來自心靈的響宴) presents the Canada-based handbell orchestra Bells of Shaughnessy performing a varied program of works ranging from classical to pop.
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$350 and NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tomorrow afternoon is the Formoz Friends Party, a reunion of bands that have played past Formoz rock festivals. The all-day, outdoor event takes place at the Guandu Nature Park and features Japanese headliners Ayabie and The Black Horn, as well as top-shelf local indie bands, including 1976, Tizzy Bac, The White Eyes (白目), Orangegrass (橙草), Miss Silk Stocking (絲襪小姐) and Skip Skip Ben Ben.
■ Guandu Nature Park (關渡水岸公園), next to the Guandu Wharf (關渡碼頭旁). Nearest MRT Station is Guandu Station (關渡捷運站). For directions, visit The Wall’s Web site (www.thewall.com.tw) or your.gd-park.org.tw.
■ Tomorrow, from 1pm to 10pm
■ Tickets are NT$1,700 at the door, NT$1,500 in advance, available at tickets.books.com.tw
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight’s show with Geek-chic rocker Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) is sold out, as is reggae-rocker Matzka’s concert tomorrow. On Sunday, the venue hosts an Under Age Hip-Hop Party for young hip-hop fans under the age of 18.
■ 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 tomorrow, 4pm on Sunday
■ Sold out tonight and tomorrow, NT$700 on Sunday (NT$500 in advance). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight, The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts H Zett, a rock and jazz fusion pianist with a theatrical flair. Tomorrow it’s pop-punk group The Fen Fens (紛紛樂團) and The Little. Japanese visual kei group Ayabie takes to the stage on Sunday. On Wednesday, the venue hosts American instrumental rock and electronica rock duo Lymbyc Systym. Local electronica group Unfamiliar Friends Party (不熟的朋友派對) 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
■ Show starts at 9pm tonight, 8pm tomorrow, 7pm on Sunday and 8pm on Wednesday
■ NT$1,600 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$1,600 (NT$1,500 in advance) and NT$900 (NT$700 in advance) on Wednesday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts Golden Melody-nominated indie pop group We Save Strawberries (草莓救星) tonight. Pop rocker Misi Ke (柯泯薰) takes to the stage tomorrow night. Jazz guitarist Gin Lin (林華勁) performs with his group on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ Shows 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, rock club Revolver hosts Reboot Taipei, a group of DJs holding a charity event for victims of the March 11 Japanese earthquake. DJs include Terrence J, Jumper Yazeed, Vertigo and Jerry Aseret. The venue finally hosts its official opening party tomorrow [see story on page 13].
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows usually start after 10pm. Contact venue for precise times
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight (includes two drinks) and free tomorrow
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts jazz group Jazzy Bounce tonight. Pop bands PopHolic and Red Flower (紅花樂團) take to the stage tomorrow, and Ma Nien-hsien (馬念先) takes to the stage on Sunday. On Monday, the venue hosts its 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
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight, Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts the latest pop-singing contestants from the Super Idol (超級偶像) TV talent show. Tomorrow, it’s two up-and-coming Mando-pop singers, Mia Liu (劉虹翎) and Tseng Po-fu (鄭博夫). On Thursday, it’s indie rock bands Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) and Mary See the Future.
■ 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
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$400 on Saturday and Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Skip Skip Ben Ben, the latest project of the talented songwriter and vocalist Ban Ban (斑斑), performs tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Also on the bill tonight are noise rock favorites She Bang-a (死蚊子). Tomorrow experimental electronica act Shishukong (屍術控) and post-rock group Difficult Chair (難坐的椅子) take to the stage. On Wednesday, the venue starts a concert series to celebrate its 15th anniversary [see story on page 13]. The series starts with Macbeth (馬克白) and The White Eyes (白目樂團).
■ 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
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 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. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100.
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) on Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 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
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Flaneur Daguerre plays tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow it’s the Super Organ Quartet and on Tuesday it’s MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團), which plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues. On Wednesday Elin’s Jazz Quartet takes to the stage, and on Thursday the venue hosts New York-based pianist Alex Pryrodny and his trio.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow, free on other nights
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas and bassist Rick Taira.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts flamenco group Alma Itana and Funky Brothers tomorrow night.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, X207
■ Tomorrow at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400, includes one drink
Expat rocker Mike Mudd performs tomorrow night at The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Taiwanese black metal band Chthonic (閃靈樂團) takes to the stage tomorrow. Recent break-out Hoklo-singing troubadours Jimmy Wang (王俊傑) and Yan Yung-neng (嚴詠能) take to the stage tomorrow.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (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 7:30pm
■ NT$600 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow
Hardcore punk band Fucking Need Not Reasons (幹不需要理由) plays tomorrow night at The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
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Wooden houses wedged between concrete, crumbling brick facades with roofs gaping to the sky, and tiled art deco buildings down narrow alleyways: Taichung Central District’s (中區) aging architecture reveals both the allure and reality of the old downtown. From Indigenous settlement to capital under Qing Dynasty rule through to Japanese colonization, Taichung’s Central District holds a long and layered history. The bygone beauty of its streets once earned it the nickname “Little Kyoto.” Since the late eighties, however, the shifting of economic and government centers westward signaled a gradual decline in the area’s evolving fortunes. With the regeneration of the once
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