Though early 2002 hasn't offered much in terms of grown-up entertainment, it
has been gangbusters for the kids. For the next few weeks the trend
continues with the Russian Royal Clown Family, a Russian touring group that
will visit at least 16 different cities in Taiwan (including venues in
Nantou County and Penghu) between now and Feb. 4.
The group consists of eight performers, including both men and women, who
have long cultivated their talents in Moscow's circus schools and other
Russian academies for the performing arts.
In Russia, the ensemble has won awards for its innovations in clowning, most
of which bring new elements into the old standards. So of course there will
be balloons, juggling, ventriloquism, stilts and magic, but the stunts will
be mixed up with new ideas; the stilts performance involves boxing, for
example. Other segments of the 100-minute long performance will involve
narratives, mini-musicals and short plays, like the Pianist and the Mouse
and Cowboy.
The Russian Royal Clown Family will perform tonight in the Chungli Arts Hall
and tomorrow night in Hsinchu's Performing Arts Hall. The troupe comes to
Taipei's Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall this Sunday afternoon and then moves to
Taichung's Chungshan Hall on Jan. 29 and to Kaohsiung's Chihteh Hall on Feb.
1. Evening performances are at 7:30pm and matinees are at 2:30pm. For other
times and locations check: http://www.ticket.com.tw. Tickets cost between
NT$200 and $800.
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