Theater
Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group’s (莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團) Remix — Hsu Yen-ling X Sylvia Plath is a solo performance by Hsu Yen-ling (徐堰玲) inspired by the different faces of American poet Syliva Plath as manifested in the author’s work.
▲Crown Art Center Theater (皇冠小劇場), B1, 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路120巷50號B1)
▲Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$450 and NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
If Kids Theater Company’s (如果兒童劇團) The Snow White You Don’t Know About (你不知道的白雪公主) centers on Coal Ball, a character not seen in the original Snow White. Coal Ball was Snow White’s best friend during childhood and is also the Evil Queen’s servant.
▲Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
▲Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 10:30am, 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In Ghost Doll Company’s (鬼娃株式會社劇團) latest production Daoba on the Moon (月亮上的刀巴), aspiring painters take an escalator to the Moon in pursuit of their artistic dreams. Little do they know there is a conspiracy afoot.
▲Guling Street Theater (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 and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The latest stand-up comedy production by Comedians Workshop (相聲瓦舍), The Unmatchable Mates (兩光康樂隊), stars Feng Yi-kang (馮翊綱) and Sung Shao-ching (宋少卿) as two villagers forced to provide entertainment for the night after the village’s movie projectionist is thrown into jail for stealing money from his boss.
▲Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳), 17, Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
▲Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
A tribute to the late Taiwanese writer Yeh Shih-tao (葉石濤), who died of cancer last December, Kaohsiung-based Spring Wind Art Theatre’s (南風劇場) Mr Chien (簡先生) follows a White Terror victim who returns to his hometown years after the era of authoritarian rule has passed.
▲International Culture and Tourism Bureau, Miaoli County (苗栗縣政府國際文化觀光局), 50, Zihjhih Rd, Miaoli City (苗栗市自治路50號)
▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical
Mikhail Pletnev and The Russian National Orchestra (普雷特涅夫與俄羅斯國家管弦樂團) brings the renowned orchestra to Taiwan for two concerts under its director Mikail Pletnev. The program for today’s concert is selections from Rimsky Korsakov’s Snow Maiden, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, with soloist Alexey Bruni, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. The program for tomorrow is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Symphony No. 5.
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$4,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
2009 Young Stars of Chinese Music (2009傳統器樂新秀) is an annual event that showcases emerging talent in traditional Chinese music.
▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲National Recital Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$300, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Instrumental Romance IX (絲弦情IX) is a concert by the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (小巨人絲竹樂團) under conductor Chen Chi-sheng (陳志昇) and features traditional works by local composers.
▲Today at 7:30pm
▲National Recital Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Hsiung Shu-yi Violin Recital (熊書宜小提琴獨奏會) will feature local violinist Hsiung Shu-yi (熊書宜) performing a program that includes Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108, Ravel’s Violin Sonata, Prokofiev’s Sonata for Violin Solo, Op. 115, and Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango. She will be accompanied on piano by Lin Hui-chun (林慧君).
▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
▲Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight at The Wall (這牆) local indie-rock veterans 1976 take to the stage. The band’s artsy Brit-pop and mod-rock sound is as refined as ever on its latest album, Asteroid 1976 (1976這個星球), released late last year. [See Highlight.] Tomorrow electronica band Orange Doll (橘娃娃) opens up for indie-rockers Peppermint (薄荷葉). On Sunday, eight indie bands play half-hour sets in an event called “The Big Blaze Challenge.” Groups include The Fever Cats, Blair Witch and Lost and Found (失物招領).
▲B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.thewall.com.tw for more information
▲Shows start at 8pm tonight and tomorrow and 7pm on Sunday
▲Entrance fee is NT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and NT$250 Sunday
Folk rock group Windmill (風籟坊) appears tonight at Witch House (女巫店), followed by Green!Eyes (綠色眼睛), which describes its music as having a “flavor of guitar pop and a bit of country.” Sirius Sharp (天狼星口琴樂團), a trio of harmonica virtuosos, plays tomorrow night.
▲7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For more information, call (02) 2362-5494 or visit 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
▲Entry fee for music shows is NT$300
Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), it’s the RAY Band (雷樂隊), a trio of veteran session musicians who play power-rock originals and covers. Female Mando-pop vocalist Shadya (藍又時) appears tomorrow. On Sunday, up-and-coming Mando-pop artists Rachel Chia (賈立怡) of Hong Kong and A Chord (謝和弦) split the bill. 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). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲Shows start at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm tomorrow and Sunday. Open jam starts at 9pm
▲Entrance is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, NT$400 Sunday and NT$150 Monday
Pop-crooning legend and funnyman Bobby Chen (陳昇) does a pared-down folk set tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow’s late-night concert by college-rock favorite Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) is already sold out. Aboriginal folk singer Panai (巴奈) takes to the stage on Sunday to play dreamy east coast folk sounds from her latest album A Piece of Blue. She will be joined by her band Message, as well as Taitung Amis singer Long-ge (龍哥), who is known for his rousing drinking songs, and Takanow (達卡鬧), who sings in Rukai (魯凱), Hokkien and Hakka. [See story on Page 15.]
▲177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Call (02) 2370-8805 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
Tonight at 8:30pm, tomorrow at 11:30pm (sold out) and 8:30pm Sunday
▲Entrance is NT$600 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow (sold out) and Sunday; entry includes one drink
Groove to cool jazz and acid jazz sounds with Jazz Your Mind tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow The Kenyatta Trio plays New Orleans funk and rock. On Tuesday it’s the Jason Hayashi Trio, and on Wednesday Gary’s Battle Production. The T and T Jazz Trio performs on Thursday.
▲B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz for more information
▲Performances begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays. Sappho is closed on Sundays and Mondays
▲No entrance fee
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s an open mic hosted by Jake Stanley of the acoustic duo Stoked Pokey. All are welcome to participate. Participants receive 20 percent off drinks.
▲1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information
▲8:30pm to 11pm every Wednesday
▲No entrance fee
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights this week include Hsing Lung (辛隆) tomorrow and Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday. Lin Chun-yi (林俊逸) and Lang Tzu-yun (郎祖筠), a male and female duo, take the stage on Wednesday.
▲211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號). Call (02) 2738-3995 or visit www.ez5.com.tw for more information
▲Music shows run from 9:45pm
to 12:30am
▲Entrance (including two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer. Call venue for exact fees
It’s an evening of ska music tonight with Dangzai Kongzhong (盪在空中) and Skaraoke at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow all-girl punk band BB Bomb (BB彈) and Second Hand Smoke (二手煙) rock the house.
▲B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
▲Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
▲Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink, NT$100 on Wednesday
Franz and Friends (城市舞台藝文沙龍), an upscale restaurant and performance space in Taipei’s east district, hosts music shows every night. The music tends to play it safe, ranging from wistful love songs and opera to lounge jazz. Weekly highlights include Denise Juan (阮丹青), a former pop singer turned piano teacher, television presenter and traveler, and her band Sunshine Costa. They play tonight. Tomorrow it’s Buona Sera, a group featuring soprano Chang Hsiao-ni (張曉倪).
▲25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號B1). Call (02) 2579-0558 for reservations, or visit www.franzandfriends.com.tw for more information
▲Minimum charge of NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays; on other nights there’s a one-drink minimum
Exhibitions
X Beyond O: Calligraphy-Sign-Space (無中生有:書法 符號 空間) mixes calligraphy, architecture and design to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary media. The collaborative exhibition includes work by calligrapher Grace Tung (董陽孜), Hong Kong director Matthias Woo (胡恩威) and architect Roan Ching-yueh (阮慶岳).
▲Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (MOCA, Taipei), 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei City (台北市長安西路39號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2552-3721. On the Net: www.mocataipei.org.tw
▲Until Aug. 9
Cultural Insights From Taiwanese Documentary Photography (台灣美術系列─紀錄攝影中的文化觀) explores Taiwan’s cultural values and social environment through 152 photographs covering the past century. The images are from the museum’s permanent collection.
▲National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立台灣美術館), 2, Wucyuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市五權西路一段2號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Tel: (04) 2372-3552
▲Until July 19
Saint Anonymous (微塵聖像—阿藍、陳志駒影像雙個展) is a dual exhibition by photographers Chen Chih-chu (陳志駒) and A-Lan (阿藍) that explores themes such as the material and spiritual, sacred and profane and good and evil.
▲Elsa Art Gallery (雲清藝術中心), 3F, 1-1 Tianmu E Rd, Taipei City (台北市天母東路1-1號3樓). Open daily from 1pm to 7pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Tel: (02) 2876-0386
▲Until July 5
Between Dimensions — Li Hui Solo Exhibition (維度之間—李暉個展). Thirty-two year old Li Hui (李暉) is known for using lasers, LED lights and stainless steel to create installation art. His solo exhibition in Taipei includes The Soul Released by Rationality, a surgical operating room reproduced using smoke, lasers and medical equipment.
▲Taipei National University of the Arts — Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts (台北藝術大學關渡美術館), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Beitou Dist, Taipei City (台北市北投區學園路1號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Tel: (02) 2893-8871
▲Until July 19
In the March 9 edition of the Taipei Times a piece by Ninon Godefroy ran with the headine “The quiet, gentle rhythm of Taiwan.” It started with the line “Taiwan is a small, humble place. There is no Eiffel Tower, no pyramids — no singular attraction that draws the world’s attention.” I laughed out loud at that. This was out of no disrespect for the author or the piece, which made some interesting analogies and good points about how both Din Tai Fung’s and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC, 台積電) meticulous attention to detail and quality are not quite up to
April 21 to April 27 Hsieh Er’s (謝娥) political fortunes were rising fast after she got out of jail and joined the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in December 1945. Not only did she hold key positions in various committees, she was elected the only woman on the Taipei City Council and headed to Nanjing in 1946 as the sole Taiwanese female representative to the National Constituent Assembly. With the support of first lady Soong May-ling (宋美齡), she started the Taipei Women’s Association and Taiwan Provincial Women’s Association, where she
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) hatched a bold plan to charge forward and seize the initiative when he held a protest in front of the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office. Though risky, because illegal, its success would help tackle at least six problems facing both himself and the KMT. What he did not see coming was Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (將萬安) tripping him up out of the gate. In spite of Chu being the most consequential and successful KMT chairman since the early 2010s — arguably saving the party from financial ruin and restoring its electoral viability —
It is one of the more remarkable facts of Taiwan history that it was never occupied or claimed by any of the numerous kingdoms of southern China — Han or otherwise — that lay just across the water from it. None of their brilliant ministers ever discovered that Taiwan was a “core interest” of the state whose annexation was “inevitable.” As Paul Kua notes in an excellent monograph laying out how the Portuguese gave Taiwan the name “Formosa,” the first Europeans to express an interest in occupying Taiwan were the Spanish. Tonio Andrade in his seminal work, How Taiwan Became Chinese,
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