Theater
To celebrate the holiday season, Da-Guan Dance Theater (大觀舞集) is presenting classical ballet The Nutcracker. Established by the National Taiwan University of Arts (國立台灣藝術大學) department of dance in 2005, Da-Guan is a professional dance troupe that collaborates with the different departments, students and faculty at the university to create interdisciplinary productions. [See story on Page 14.]
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Part of the NTCH’s New Idea Series, which focuses on renowned Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu (湯顯祖), Mobius Strip Theatre’s (莫比斯圓環創作公社) The Archetype of Ant Hole (螞蟻洞中的原型記號) is a dream where Tang meets and debates with Carl Jung, and modern theater actors play with Kun opera performers.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ 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
Sandra Li (李婉菁), a former keyboard player for heavy metal band Chthonic (閃靈), teams up with DJ point, rapper Chang Jui-chuan (張睿銓), heavy metal vocalist Chi (小祇) and soprano Chen Wen-yu (陳文鈺) for the experimental Dark Baroque (黑暗巴洛克), a hybrid theatrical show of classical music, hip-hop and heavy metal sounds.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre
(牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St,
Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 4pm and 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
Wanhua Theater (萬華劇團) aims to free the body from social conventions with four dance and theater pieces featuring real-life nude models that explore the eroticized body and carnal desire.
■ Crown Theater (皇冠藝術中心小劇場), 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City
(台北市敦化北路120巷50號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm.
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
For its child-friendly Beauty and the Beast (美女與野獸), Tainaner Ensemble (台南人劇團) uses acrobatics, magic tricks, music and dance to reinterpret the classic fairy tale.
■ National Taiwan University Theater (國立台灣大學台大劇場), 1, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段1號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, Thursday at 9:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 and NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
NSO New Year Concert (NSO跨新年音樂會—歡樂頌) sees the National Symphony Orchestra (國立臺灣交響樂團) celebrate the arrival of 2010 with a program that includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Choral, Op.125”. The concert features the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) and soprano Chu Tai-li (朱苔麗), mezzo soprano Chen Pei-chi (陳珮琪), tenor Steven Harrison and bass Liau Chong-boon (廖聰文). The conductor will be Gunther Herbig.
■ Thursday at 10pm and Jan. 1 at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
See in 2010 With Chang Cheng-jie (張正傑陪您迎接2010年) is a musical evening complete with food and wine provided by the Ritz-Landis Hotel. Cellist Chang Cheng-jie (張正傑) provides a program of music including Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No.4 and Brahms Sonata No.1 to ring in the New Year. Cheng will be accompanied by Liao Chia-hung on violin and Liao Jiao-han (廖皎含) on piano.
■ Thursday at 9:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$800 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Japanese rock star Sugizo, the guitarist from Visual Kei band Luna Sea, performs tonight and tomorrow at Legacy Taipei. On Thursday the venue hosts a showcase of girl-power bands: Go Chic, Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐), Boyz and Girl (男孩們女孩) and White Eyes (白目樂隊).
■ 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday
■ Entrance is NT$2,500 tonight and tomorrow and NT$600 on Thursday (NT$500 in advance). Prices include one drink. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw
Indie band Echo (回聲樂團) brings its stylish electro-rock to The Wall (這牆) tonight. Later on, it’s X’pecial Gift, a dance party featuring DJs Code, Stanley and BB and VJ louxuan. Tomorrow Taiwan’s most renowned metal band, Chthonic (閃靈), which recently completed a tour of the US and the UK, returns to the venue. Crescent Lament and Hekate open the show. On Sunday it’s nu-metal/emo-core band Lazy Lady, Overdose and Back-On of Japan. On Thursday The Wall celebrates New Year’s Eve with LTK Commune (濁水溪公社), rock crooner Sissey Chao (趙一豪) and his group Double X.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net:
www.thewall.com.tw
■ Music shows start at 8pm. Tonight’s DJ party starts at 11:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight for the music show and NT$700 for the DJs, NT$500 tomorrow, NT$500 Sunday (NT$400 in advance) and NT$400 Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewall.com.tw
or tickets.books.com.tw
At Witch House (女巫店) tonight, it’s folk-pop singer Europa Huang (黃建為). Tomorrow night lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Suming (姜聖明) of indie-rock band Totem (圖騰) takes the stage. No shows are scheduled for Thursday, as the venue’s New Year’s celebration features a board games and roleplay costume party. See their Web site for details.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net:
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 and tomorrow, NT$450 on Thursday, NT$350 for those wearing costumes
Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), pop singer Shin Lung (辛龍) performs in a free show. Tomorrow features pianist and vocalist Si Han (思涵) and pop-rockers Color Band. Yanjue (嚴爵) plays blues, funk and folk on Sunday. Monday is the venue’s 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). Tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm tomorrow and Sunday. Open jam starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is free tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts singer-songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮) who will perform songs from her new album, Snowman. Tomorrow comedic indie-rock band Wonfu (旺福) perform all new material, and on Sunday, it’s folk legend Kimbo Hu (胡德夫) and the Wild Fire Music Troupe (野火樂集). On Thursday the venue celebrates New Year’s with singer Waa Wei (魏如萱), better known as Waa (娃娃), who performs with composer and songwriter Chen Chien-chi (陳建騏). The two recently collaborated on a musical theater performance inspired by several Shakespeare plays.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm tonight and tomorrow, and 7:30pm Sunday and 9:30pm Thursday
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, NT$500 Sunday and NT$600 Thursday. Tickets can purchased online at www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Selfish Sucker and metal punk band Bazooka (鐵拳火箭) play tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow the venue hosts the Yellow Turban Rebellion 2009 party, featuring hip-hop act Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) and Bubble-B of Japan. On Wednesday it’s noise-rock from Shebang-a (死蚊子) and experimental electronica from Shishukong (屍術控). Thursday’s New Year’s Eve party features punks Inhuman Species (非人物種), high-energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽) and White Eyes (白目樂隊), followed by a dance party with DJs Floaty Keith, Randy, Chema, Spykee and Fish.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, NT$300 Wednesday and NT$500 Thursday, which includes one drink. The New Year’s Even late night dance party is NT$500, which includes one drink
The Earl Hines II Jazztet appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Appearing tomorrow is blues and surf rock the Blues Vibrations. On Tuesday it’s the MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團). On Wednesday it’s Ash and Friends, who play jazz on “unorthodox instruments.” On Thursday the venue celebrates New Year’s Eve with live music from a large cast of musicians, including pianist Peng Yu-wen (彭郁雯) and singer-songwriter Dawid Vorster.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net:
www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10pm
■ Entrance is free
It’s a punk rock Christmas tonight at Taichung’s 89k with 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽), Awesome Shit and Hand Knife. Punk band Inhuman Species (非人物種) takes the stage tomorrow.
■ 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
Tonight Roxy Roots throws a “Reggae Party Green Christmas” featuring The Warm Ups, Dangzai Kongzhong (盪在空中) and DJ Allenblow. Tomorrow it’s Fiesta Latino with live music from the Taipei Latin Soul. Wednesday night is the venue’s open jam night. This coming week features David Chen of the Muddy Basin Ramblers, who hosts a blues, jazz and roots music revue. The venue’s New Year’s Eve celebration features blues and garage rock veterans Celluloid (賽璐璐), Taipei Latin Soul and reggae DJ Soto.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號), Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is free except Thursday, which is NT$600
88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽) perform tomorrow at The Mercury (水星酒館) in Kaohsiung.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is free
Common sense is not that common: a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania concludes the concept is “somewhat illusory.” Researchers collected statements from various sources that had been described as “common sense” and put them to test subjects. The mixed bag of results suggested there was “little evidence that more than a small fraction of beliefs is common to more than a small fraction of people.” It’s no surprise that there are few universally shared notions of what stands to reason. People took a horse worming drug to cure COVID! They think low-traffic neighborhoods are a communist plot and call
It is barely 10am and the queue outside Onigiri Bongo already stretches around the block. Some of the 30 or so early-bird diners sit on stools, sipping green tea and poring over laminated menus. Further back it is standing-room only. “It’s always like this,” says Yumiko Ukon, who has run this modest rice ball shop and restaurant in the Otsuka neighbourhood of Tokyo for almost half a century. “But we never run out of rice,” she adds, seated in her office near a wall clock in the shape of a rice ball with a bite taken out. Bongo, opened in 1960 by
Over the years, whole libraries of pro-People’s Republic of China (PRC) texts have been issued by commentators on “the Taiwan problem,” or the PRC’s desire to annex Taiwan. These documents have a number of features in common. They isolate Taiwan from other areas and issues of PRC expansion. They blame Taiwan’s rhetoric or behavior for PRC actions, particularly pro-Taiwan leadership and behavior. They present the brutal authoritarian state across the Taiwan Strait as conciliatory and rational. Even their historical frames are PRC propaganda. All of this, and more, colors the latest “analysis” and recommendations from the International Crisis Group, “The Widening
From a nadir following the 2020 national elections, two successive chairs of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and Eric Chu (朱立倫), tried to reform and reinvigorate the old-fashioned Leninist-structured party to revive their fortunes electorally. As examined in “Donovan’s Deep Dives: How Eric Chu revived the KMT,” Chu in particular made some savvy moves that made the party viable electorally again, if not to their full powerhouse status prior to the 2014 Sunflower movement. However, while Chu has made some progress, there remain two truly enormous problems facing the KMT: the party is in financial ruin and
RSS