Dafeng Theater continues its tradition of staging musical versions of theater classics by giving William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice the musical treatment this weekend in Taipei.
Those who have attended a Dafeng play in the past can attest to the company's professionalism and commercial success. The sets and costumes are well designed and the actors are masters of their craft.
The troupe, which staged an English version of The Nutcracker earlier this year, said an English performance of this show will be presented in June. This weekend parents and their children can expect a selection of sing-a-long songs in Mandarin and a pantomime-like performance that invites audience participation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAFENG MUSICAL THEATER
In the original story Antonio, a Christian merchant, borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish merchant who has grown wealthy through money lending, a profession forbidden to Christians but open to Jewish businessmen at the time. To secure the loan Antonio must risk one pound of flesh for failing to repay the money. When Shylock's daughter runs away with a Christian man, he demands Antonio repay the money or suffer the consequences.
According to the production's music composer and director, Jan Tien-hao (
Evening performances will held tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets cost between NT$300 and NT$1100, and are available online at http://maillist.to.tafen or at the door. All performances are held at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, 505 Renai Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
It’s only half the size of its more famous counterpart in Taipei, but the Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Nature Science (NMNS, 國立自然科學博物館植物園) is surely one of urban Taiwan’s most inviting green spaces. Covering 4.5 hectares immediately northeast of the government-run museum in Taichung’s North District (北區), the garden features more than 700 plant species, many of which are labeled in Chinese but not in English. Since its establishment in 1999, the site’s managers have done their best to replicate a number of native ecosystems, dividing the site into eight areas. The name of the Coral Atoll Zone might
Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The
RSS