Theater
The Goodbye Girl (再見女郎) is an adaptation of the Neil Simon play of the same name by Taiwan’s Godot Theater Company (果陀劇場), which specializes in bringing major works of western drama to the Taiwanese stage. Starring seasoned performers Sam Tseng (曾國城) and Megan Lai (賴雅妍) in the parts of Elliot Garfield and Paula McFadden, characters immortalized by Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason in the 1977 film of the play.
■ Today, tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City; the show will be performed next weekend (Aug. 24 to Aug. 26) at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (台北國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段505號2樓)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Tripitaka: Beyond the Legend (神話以外的唐三藏) is a multimedia stage production by Golden Lotus Performance Group (金色蓮花表演坊劇團) telling the story of the Buddhist missionary who features prominently in the Chinese fantasy classic Journey to the West (西遊記). This lavish stage production provides a more historically based picture of the monk who traveled to India to obtain scriptures that were crucial to the development of Buddhism in China.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7pm
■ Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (台北國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段505號2樓)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,800; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Nonsense (鬼扯), a new production by Off Performance Workshop (外表坊時驗團), pushes theatrical boundaries in honor of Ghost Month (鬼月).
■ Opens tomorrow at 7:30pm; performances every day until Aug. 31
■ 363 Theater (363小劇場), 4F, 36-3, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市復興南路一段36-3號4樓)
■ Tickets are NT$500; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Story After Ah Q (阿Q後傳) by Olivia Yan (甄詠蓓) and the O Theatre Workshop, continues the program of exciting experimental drama presented by the Taipei Arts Festival (台北藝術節). Yan takes her inspiration from The True Story of Ah Q (阿Q正傳), one of the most influential works of modern Chinese fiction, which even spawned the term “Ah Q-ism” as a description of some of the more discreditable aspects of the Chinese character.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,200; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Hemispherical Red and Black by Okazaki Art Theater of Japan is an absurdist drama created from director Yudai Kamisato’s observations of Japanese society’s attempts to conceal helplessness and contradiction in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster in March 2011.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Taipei City Shuiyuan Theater (台北市水源劇場), 10F, 92, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段92號10樓)
■ Tickets are NT$800; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Undying Home, a performance that is part of the 2012 Summer Move — Interdisciplinary Spectrum (舞上癮) series being hosted by the Taipei Artists Village (台北國際藝術村). Performed by Vangelis Evangelos Legakis, an artist from Greece, based on “Forsythe’s Improvisation Technologies, Rudolf Laban’s theories, martial arts principles and on emotions.”
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 8:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm and 3:30pm
■ Barry Room, Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村百里廳), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號),
■ Tickets are NT$150; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
An Encounter in Time (桃花緣) by Jade and Artists Dance Troupe (肢體音符舞團), probes the relationship between men and women across space-time. Inspired by poems written by Tsangyang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama, this dance presents three stories taking place in two different times and spaces.
■ Saturday 7:30pm
■ New Taipei City Arts Center (新北市藝文中心演藝廳), 62 Jhuangjing Rd, Banciao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區莊敬路62號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800; available through NTCH ticketing and 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. Chinese pop singer James Li (李泉) performs tomorrow night. Indie rockers Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) and Hightide appear on Saturday. Sunday’s show is the latest in Legacy’s concert series The Next Big Thing showcasing up-and-coming talent. This week’s roster is The Girl and The Robots (女孩與機器人) and Pilot K with MC and Frande (法蘭黛).
■ 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 starts at 8pm tomorrow, 8pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday.
■ Tickets are NT$1,200 tomorrow, NT$500 Saturday and NT$350 Sunday. Tickets available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw and at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores.
Metal bands Epitaph (落幕表述), Fetish People (癡人) and Unfit Chair (難坐的椅子) perform tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow’s line-up is indie rock group F.L.A.T Club (假文藝青年俱樂部) and Hush. London-based singer songwriter Chris Madin and Jigsaw (拼圖人生) are on Saturday’s roster. Wind Evasian (風謎藏), Living Room (小客廳), Tight Tight Crotch (緊褲襠) and Yellow Melon (小玉西瓜) take the stage on Sunday.
■ 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
■ All shows starts at 8pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$200 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow, NT$990 Saturday and NT$200 Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Shimmer Riot and Apple Lee (李蘋果) perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Folk musicians Dakanow (達卡鬧) are on tomorrow, followed by Unfit Chair and Yellow Melon on Saturday.
■ 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 fee for music shows is NT$300
Tonight, Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) hosts singer-songwriter Fiona Wu (吳南穎) and Tsing Yi (青衣). Feitaowu (菲島屋) will perform with fellow jazz musicians tomorrow, while singer-songwriter JS performs her Summer Songs on Saturday. Sunday’s show is a tribute to Japanese jazz band T-Square and will feature Timeless Fusion Party and Skyline and Friends.
■ 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.
■ Shows start at 9pm tonight, 9:30pm tomorrow, 9pm Saturday and Sunday. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Entrance fee is NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
Tonight’s show at Riverside Live House is Dream Map (夢想藍圖之夜), featuring Funky Brothers (放客兄弟), Olivia Yan (閻韋伶) and Shihwaitaoyuan (世外桃源). Jazz musician Shun Kikuta headlines tomorrow’s Blues & More Vol.3: GUITAR SLAM!!, while Hakka singer-songwriter Lo Sirong (羅思容) performs with Gomoteu (孤毛頭) on Saturday night.
■ 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 8:30pm tonight, 8:30pm tomorrow, and 8pm Saturday
■ Tickets are NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow and NT$400 Saturday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse and tickets.books.com.tw.
Sappho de Base, a late night lounge and jazz venue, hosts Fusion Trio tonight, Alter-J tomorrow and Texas Hold’em (德州豹豹) on Saturday.
■ 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 tonight and 10:30pm tomorrow and Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$200
Revolver’s roster tonight includes Heartones (心電樂), Orientone (大聲東), Sonic Deadhorse (音速死馬). Tomorrow’s lineup is Floaty, BHD, OCD Girl and DJ Reider, while Saturday’s party is called Taipei Vice—80’s Night and features the talents of DJs Marcus Aurelius, 8ball, Digital D, Mr Uppity, Kolette and Robi Roka. Come dressed in costume for a chance to win cash prizes of NT$500.
■ 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 start at 9:30pm tonight and tomorrow and 10pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight , NT$300 tomorrow and NT$350 on Saturday. All fees include one drink.
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night.
■ 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
Guitar duo Blurrs Bros perform American songbook tunes tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Taipei blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas.
■ 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 Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live performances every Saturday. This week’s roster includes punk rockers DAMNKIDZ (死小孩), indie pop group The Angles (角落) and folk group Promise Leaf (葉子).
■ 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: visit mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$250, which includes one drink
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Rockers Champion (強辯) perform tomorrow, followed by Come On! Bay Bay! (來吧!焙焙!) on Saturday night.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7:30pm tomorrow and 7:30pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$600 tomorrow and NT$350 on Saturday.
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
The following three paragraphs are just some of what the local Chinese-language press is reporting on breathlessly and following every twist and turn with the eagerness of a soap opera fan. For many English-language readers, it probably comes across as incomprehensibly opaque, so bear with me briefly dear reader: To the surprise of many, former pop singer and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ex-lawmaker Yu Tien (余天) of the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association (TNCPA) at the last minute dropped out of the running for committee chair of the DPP’s New Taipei City chapter, paving the way for DPP legislator Su
It’s hard to know where to begin with Mark Tovell’s Taiwan: Roads Above the Clouds. Having published a travelogue myself, as well as having contributed to several guidebooks, at first glance Tovell’s book appears to inhabit a middle ground — the kind of hard-to-sell nowheresville publishers detest. Leaf through the pages and you’ll find them suffuse with the purple prose best associated with travel literature: “When the sun is low on a warm, clear morning, and with the heat already rising, we stand at the riverside bike path leading south from Sanxia’s old cobble streets.” Hardly the stuff of your
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