All U People Theater (全民大劇團), the multimedia group that produced the wildly popular spoof politics TV show The Largest Political Party (全民最大黨), turns its satirical eye to soap operas starring entertainment industry idols for its third theatrical work, which will be performed at the Metropolitan Hall (台北市社教館城市舞台) from Feb. 10 to Feb. 19.
Written and directed by Hsieh Nien-tsu (謝念祖), Crazy Idol Soap (瘋狂偶像劇) stars TV soap actor James Wen (溫昇豪) as a successful TV producer who coaches supporting actress Megan Lai (賴雅妍) on how to become a female lead. The show features 16 songs with lyrics penned by pop master Vincent Fang (方文山).
“I aim not only to lampoon but also to celebrate the pop-idol-soap formula,” director Hsieh told the Taipei Times in an interview on Monday. “Soaps starring idols satisfy people’s lack of love when their ordinary lives are humble.”
Photo courtesy of All U People Theater
At a rehearsal earlier this week, Wen advised Lai, “if you want to be the female lead, throw out your garbage. Forget the past and then you can move on.”
Crazy Idol Soap’s story traces the lives of its two protagonists as they meet, argue, kiss, experience major trauma and misunderstandings and miss out on romantic possibilities.
“It took 30 versions for me to pinpoint this love story,” Hsieh said. “I have to admit love is the most timeless and moving topic of all.”
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