Theater
Theater company Lee Quing-zhao the Private’s (李清照私人劇團) latest project, Liu San-mei (劉三妹), is about three former “comfort women” (a term used to describe women from Japanese-occupied regions who were forced to provide sexual services to Japanese soldiers during World War II) who are haunted by the past. Male actors in drag perform traditional operatic gestures and chant Hakka mountain songs and Hoklo ballads. The work is adapted from the television series of the same title, which won an award for Best Art Director at last year’s Golden Bell Awards.
▲Red House Theater (紅樓劇場), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
▲Tomorrow and Sunday at 2pm
and 8pm
▲Tickets are NT$600 or NT$400 for students, seniors and persons with disabilities, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation (婦女救援基金會)
Ren Shin Co-op’s (仁信合作社) latest work, I Am My Own Wife (我的妻子就是我), is based on US playwright Doug Wright’s play of the same title. It tells of the life of German transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Germany. Ren Shin Co-op was founded two years ago by eight graduates of National Taiwan University’s theater department.
▲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 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Free Journey (自由行) is a solo performance by Yu Shan-min’s (于善敏) that mixes jazz, tango, rock ‘n’ roll, bossa nova and the musical numbers to tell the story of a traveler’s journey.
▲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 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The last two installments of Blue Dragon White Tiger (青龍白虎三世纏鬥), a six-part performance by the National Guoguang Opera Company (國立國光劇團), take place this weekend. The production recounts the ancient legend of two mythical beasts, the Blue Dragon and the White Tiger.
▲Guoguang Theater (國光劇場), 8-1, Ln 66, Muzha Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市木柵路三段66巷8號之1)
▲Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$200 and NT$300, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.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-gang (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 from his boss.
▲National Taichung Library Chunghsing Concert Hall (台中市中興堂), 291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號)
▲Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical
The Light Princess Family Concert (兩廳院管風琴親子音樂會—輕輕公主) sees well-known organist Liu Hsin-hung (劉信宏), pianist Tang Wan-chun (湯婉君) and flautist Chen Ya-ching (陳雅菁) perform popular classics such as Rawsthorne’s Hornpipe Humoresque, Albright’s Jig for the Feet, Poulenc’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation, Op.1 and Widor’s Toccata From Organ Symphony No. 5, Op. 42. They will be accompanied by the Rong-shing Cultural Foundation Chorus and Strings (榮星合唱團), and the show will be hosted by Ke Meng-hsin (柯孟欣) as Sister Honey (蜜蜂姊妹) from Eastern Broadcasting’s (東森電視) Yoyo TV Channel.
▲Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
Lost in Wonderland (兒童樂園 — 彈指之間室內樂團 樂活一夏) is a concert for children featuring Hung Yun-yao (洪韻堯) and Wu Yi-chen (吳宜真) on violin, Chen Yung-chan (陳永展) on viola and Tseng Chia-yi (曾加宜) on cello, with Kevin Romanski on percussion. The program includes Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 4 “Sunrise,” Paul SanGregory’s Four Poems for String Quartet and Percussion, and Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11.
▲Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Henry Mazer Music and Culture Hall (台北愛樂暨梅哲音樂文化館), B1, 7 Jinan Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市濟南路一段7號B1)
▲Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
A Night at the Opera (台北愛樂歌劇坊—歌劇選粹之夜) completes a series of concerts by the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra (台北愛樂青年管弦樂團) and the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) featuring emerging operatic talent in a program of highlights from famous operas including Magic Flute, Carmen and Othello.
▲Sunday at 7:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
Contemporary
The 15th Taichung American Chamber of Commerce America Day Celebration offers music, games and vendor booths serving a variety of international food on Independence Day. The lineup consists of mostly foreign bands and musicians including The Money Shot Horns, Skaraoke, .22 (Point 22), Militant Hippi, The DoLittles, 3 Day Bender, The Stackers and ‘Round Midnight.
▲Nanyuan Park (南苑公園) on Wenxin South Road, Nantun District, Taichung City (台中市南屯區文心南路)
▲Tomorrow from noon to 9:30pm
▲For more information contact Douglas Habecker at 0936-827-267, or River Chen at (04) 2471-8133, or visit www.amchamtaichung.org
Shoegazer experimental rock is the sound tonight at The Wall (這牆), which hosts Japanese groups Clione-Index and Presence of Soul. Also appearing is the post-rock-ish,
emo-tinged group Orangegrass (橙草). Tomorrow pop singer Valen Hsu (許茹芸) performs a concert titled My Love Journey. On Sunday, it’s nu-rock band Tiger Punch (虎拳), which opens for Japanese hard rockers Roach and Drive Far.
▲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
▲All shows start at 8pm
▲Entrance is NT$600 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow; Sunday’s show is NT$400 in advance, NT$500 at the door. Advance tickets for Sunday’s show are available at White Wabbit Records, located inside the venue
Shotetsu (舒吉吉) and Woody Woody (風籟坊) have come together to form a fingerstyle acoustic guitar group that appears tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Taitung Amis singer Long-ge (龍哥), known for his rousing drinking songs, takes to the stage tomorrow. On Thursday it’s Gina’s Can (吉那罐子樂團), an acoustic group that plays ballads, jazz, fusion and funk. Ding Ding and Xi Xi (丁丁與西西), a quiet and intimate acoustic group, ends the evening.
▲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
▲Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) swings with saxophonist Tung Shun-wen (董舜文) and friends. Taking to the stage tomorrow is Hsiao Hung-ren (蕭閎仁), an R ’n’ B pop singer who recently gained notoriety for his song This Person Fuck (法克這個人). Opening for Hsiao is Taiwan’s “little prince of R ’n’ B” Afalean Lu (盧學叡). On Sunday, the venue hosts pop-rock act Color Band and What Century (花世紀), an outfit of 20-year-old rockers. Monday is open jam night (for a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site).
▲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
▲Show starts at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm tomorrow and Sunday. Open jam starts at 9pm
▲Entrance is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday
Hilarious and wacky alt-rock legends The Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊) play tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). While the band’s lineup has changed over the years, expect the same old madness from lead singer Hsiao-ying (小應) and the ever-present pair of female dancers. Mando-pop singer Shadya (藍又時) appears tomorrow. On Sunday the venue hosts a day-long metal fest called Extreme Heavy Sounds 7 (極度重音柒). The lineup includes Desecration, Horsemen and Human Brutality.
▲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 and tomorrow at 8:30pm, Sunday from 1pm to 10pm
▲Admission (including a drink) is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, and NT$900 at the door or NT$700 in advance on Sunday. Tickets are available at the venue or through www.books.com.tw
Metamorphosis (變形蟲爵士樂團), one of the first jazz groups in Taiwan to perform and record original music, appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ) takes to the stage. On Tuesday it’s the Louis Goldford Quartet, and on Wednesday The Chris Stiles Trio plays original compositions as well as arrangements of Chinese pop songs. On Thursday the MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues.
▲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 join in, and 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 male crooners Su Tzu (蘇子) tonight and Hsing Lung (辛隆) tomorrow. Pub legend and songstress Tiger Huang (黃小琥) performs every Monday, while Julia Peng (彭佳慧), another major draw, appears every Tuesday.
▲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
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. Performing tomorrow is 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
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會) indie-folk rocker Ban Ban (斑斑) appears with her new band Boyz and Girl. Also on the bill are indie rockers Green!Eyes (綠色眼睛). Tomorrow, a new group called Until Seeing Whale’s Eyes takes to the stage. On Wednesday, it’s Half Mile Radius and Uncolored Unknown.
▲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
▲Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink,
Tomorrow, Bliss hosts an evening of Balkan folk and gypsy music with Aashti Band MK and DJ Damier.
▲148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號), one block east of Dunhua South Road (敦化南路). Tel: (02) 2702-1855
▲Tomorrow from 10pm
▲Entrance fee tonight is NT$300, includes one drink
Exhibitions
The Smiling Kingdom — The Terracotta Warriors of Han Yang Ling (微笑彩俑—漢景帝的地下王國) is an exhibition of clay objects excavated from a mausoleum that dates back to the Western Han (西漢) Dynasty. The 200 sets of artifacts on display from the period illustrate the progress of the period’s technological and social development and include representations of women and eunuchs, livestock and daily implements such as utensils, tiles, decorative fixtures and lamps.
▲National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei City (台北市南海路49號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2361-0270
▲Until Sept. 27
The recently opened Digital Art Center, Taipei (台北數位藝術中心) in Shilin (士林) is currently hosting two exhibits. Tao Ya-lun (陶亞倫) employs laser projection in The Light of Historical Ending (終結歷史之光) to create a visually arresting light show, while Ma Chun-fu’s (馬君輔) installation Kodomo Manufacture (兒童製造) is a symbolic recreation of assembly lines. Ma’s work means to criticize Taiwan’s education system and its emphasis on uniformity over creativity.
▲Digital Art Center, Taipei (台北數位藝術中心), 180 Fuhua Rd, Taipei City (台北市福華路180號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 7736-0708
▲Until Aug. 9
Horizon of Voice (聲聲不息) is a group exhibition by Lin Jiun-ting (林俊廷), Tao Ya-lun (陶亞倫), Yao Chung-han (姚仲涵), Wang Chung-kun (王仲堃), Chin Yu-fen (秦玉芬) and Yao Chien (姚謙). The six artists employ a variety of new media including installation, video and sound as a means of investigating the body, knowledge, memory and experience.
▲Gallery 100, 6, Ln 30, Changan E Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市長安東路一段30巷6號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 7pm. Tel: (02) 2536-2120
▲Until Aug. 9
South Korean artist Kim Yong Sik uses painting to explore light and spirituality in his solo exhibition Eternity and Limitation.
▲Ever Harvest Art Gallery, 2F, 107, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段107號2樓) Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 6:30pm. Tel: (02) 2752-2353
▲Until July 19
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 works 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
Taiwan, once relegated to the backwaters of international news media and viewed as a subset topic of “greater China,” is now a hot topic. Words associated with Taiwan include “invasion,” “contingency” and, on the more cheerful side, “semiconductors” and “tourism.” It is worth noting that while Taiwanese companies play important roles in the semiconductor industry, there is no such thing as a “Taiwan semiconductor” or a “Taiwan chip.” If crucial suppliers are included, the supply chain is in the thousands and spans the globe. Both of the variants of the so-called “silicon shield” are pure fantasy. There are four primary drivers
The sprawling port city of Kaohsiung seldom wins plaudits for its beauty or architectural history. That said, like any other metropolis of its size, it does have a number of strange or striking buildings. This article describes a few such curiosities, all but one of which I stumbled across by accident. BOMBPROOF HANGARS Just north of Kaohsiung International Airport, hidden among houses and small apartment buildings that look as though they were built between 15 and 30 years ago, are two mysterious bunker-like structures that date from the airport’s establishment as a Japanese base during World War II. Each is just about
Two years ago my wife and I went to Orchid Island off Taitung for a few days vacation. We were shocked to realize that for what it cost us, we could have done a bike vacation in Borneo for a week or two, or taken another trip to the Philippines. Indeed, most of the places we could have gone for that vacation in neighboring countries offer a much better experience than Taiwan at a much lower price. Hence, the recent news showing that tourist visits to Pingtung County’s Kenting, long in decline, reached a 27 year low this summer came
The female body is a horror movie waiting to happen. From puberty and the grisly onset of menstruation, in pictures such as Brian De Palma’s Carrie and John Fawcett’s Ginger Snaps, to pregnancy and childbirth — Rosemary’s Baby is the obvious example — women have provided a rich seam of inspiration for genre film-makers over the past half century. But look a little closer and two trends become apparent: the vast majority of female body-based horror deals with various aspects of the reproductive system, and it has largely been made by men (Titane and The First Omen, two recent examples
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