Artists and actors continued an outpouring of condolences yesterday over the death of theater icon Hugh Lee (李國修), lauding him as an artist of the people and a pioneer of Taiwan’s performing arts.
Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), founder and artistic director of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (雲門舞集), one of the nation’s leading dance troupes, yesterday praised Lee’s plays for portraying social phenomena and reflecting the themes of family and national history.
“He is one of Taiwan’s most important ‘people’s artists,’” said Lin, who encouraged the younger generation to learn from Lee’s passion for theater.
Photo: CNA
Lee, the founder of the Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班), one of the nation’s most renowned drama groups, died in Greater Taichung on Tuesday at the age of 58 after battling cancer for three years.
He first rose to stardom for his comedic performances in television shows in the 1980s and won a Golden Bell Award for “actor with the most potential” in 1982.
Lee later became the first recipient of the National Award for Arts in the drama category when the award was established in 1997, in honor of his works’ blending of traditional and modern art formats and his theater group.
Lee, who stood out as a gifted director, playwright and actor, is considered one of the most prolific figures in contemporary Taiwanese theater. He wrote and directed 30 plays, and played more than 100 roles during his career.
Godot Theatre Company (果陀劇場) founder Liang Chih-min (梁志民) said that his troupe used to share a rehearsal venue with the Ping-Fong Acting Troupe, and that he and Lee would always encourage each other and honestly critique their respective works.
He described Lee as a teacher and friend who “set the best possible example for theater.”
Liu Ruo-yu (劉若瑀), artistic director of percussion troupe U-Theatre (優人神鼓) and a fan of Lee’s acting, called him “Taiwan’s Charlie Chaplin.”
Comedian Kuo Tsu-chien (郭子乾), who studied acting under Lee and knew him for more than 20 years, said that if it had not been for Lee, he would not have entered the entertainment business or become an expert impersonator.
“Your works, your contribution to theater, your influence on people and your love will always remain in our hearts,” singer and actress Rainie Yang (楊丞琳) wrote on her Sina Weibo microblog.
Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group (明華園戲劇總團) Director Chen Sheng-fu (陳勝福) also expressed sadness over Lee’s death and said it was “a great loss of talent.”
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
The New Taipei City Social Welfare Department on Thursday celebrated Paralympic competitor Chen Tzu-wei (張孜維), who received last year’s national Golden Eagle award for exemplary achievement by Taiwanese with disabilities. Chen, who suffers from childhood-onset muscular dystrophy, did not attend the first award ceremony held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in November due to illness. Chen was formally presented with the award at the department, where he gave thanks to government workers for supporting his education and livelihood, the department said in a statement. Chen was raised by the Ai-hsin Home for Persons with Disabilities in the city’s Bali District (八里)
RSS