Upcoming
 “Poet” Edward Schmedward will read works from his two collections, Stanza Bonanza and Verse and Verse. PHOTO Courtesy of Hartley Pool | Stand-up comedians take center stage tonight and tomorrow for English-language shows at the Comedy Club near National Taiwan Normal University (師大). English comedian Hartley Pool — who has performed in the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, Singapore and Taiwan — will headline the two shows. He says they “will be funnier than usual because my wife has agreed not to come.” Also making an appearance will be Sammi the Psychic Cat — he reads people’s minds — and Pool’s alter-ego Edward Schmedward, a poet who reads out works from his two collections, Stanza Bonanza and Verse and Verse. Opening for Pool will be Matt “The Puppet Guy” Bronsil, a frequent performer at Taichung Improv, Comedy Club veteran Chris Wang, and, in his first show, Gary Lycett, founder of Taipei’s Idioteque club night at The Source. Ages 18 and over only. No smoking. For more information on Hartley Pool, see stories on p14 of the Friday, June 3, 2005 and p14 of the Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 editions of the Taipei Times. Comedy Club, B1, 24 Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街24號B1). Visit english.comedy.com.tw for information on this and upcoming shows. For reservations, call (02) 2369-3730 or e-mail social@comedyclub.tw 10:30pm tonight and tomorrow NT$300 tickets. NT$80 beer specials at both shows |
 Sammi the Psychic Cat reads people’s minds. PHOTO Courtesy of Hartley Pool |
Theater
Like Shadows (如影隨形) is the sister work to Stan Lai's (賴聲川) widely acclaimed A Dream Like a Dream (如夢之夢). Revolving around a grisly murder-suicide, the plot weaves in and out of several realities, including those of the main characters, who don't realize they are dead. Lai's mesmerizing script and direction along with a beautifully rendered set design leads viewers to a new theater experience as well as a riveting finale.
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center's Chih Teh Hall (高雄市立文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City, (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,800 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
P.I.G. by Morning Star Theater (晨星劇團) tells the story of a how a quiet village in the middle of a forest suffers a natural disaster and manages to pull through the tragedy by pooling its resources.
■ Concert Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Yunlin County Government (雲林縣政府文化局音樂廳), 310, Dasyue Rd Sec 3, Touliu City, Yunlin County (雲林縣斗六市大學路三段310號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Puppet Beings Theatre Company's (偶偶偶劇團) new play called The Paper Play (紙要和你在一起) is a production for parents and kids that sees a crew of black-clad puppeteers folding, bending and shaping paper into a variety of different objects.
■ Taipei Culture Center, Wenshan Branch (台北市社教館文山分館), B2, 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號 B2)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Robber's Daughter (強盜的女兒), by Song Song Song Children's and Puppet Theater (九歌兒童劇團), is a performance in which the protagonist assumes a child's point of view to work out a feud between two families.
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Open Sesame - Counterpoint Joyful Concert (芝麻開門 - 對位童話音樂會), a concert of classical music for the whole family celebrates the beginning of the school holidays and will include performances of children's favorites from the classical music repertoire as well as games and pantomime.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Mendelsohn Piano Trio (孟德爾頌鋼琴三重奏) will perform a charity concert with visiting musicians Peter Sirotin (violin), Fiona Thompson (cello) and Zhang Ya-ting (張雅婷, piano). The Mendelsohn Trio first visited Taipei in 2002, and has been a proven success with local audiences. During this visit they will perform a program including Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67, Tyzen Hsiao's (蕭泰然) The Formosa Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, 1996 and Dvorak's Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in F Minor, Op. 65.
■ Tomorrow (Taipei) and Tuesday (Taichung) at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Shinmin Senior High School Art Center (台中市新民高中藝術中心), located at 112 Chinlung St, Taichung City (台中市金龍街112號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200 for Taipei and NT$300 to NT$500 for Taichung; available through NTCH ticketing
Crossover Soprano - Roa Lan (跨界的美聲 - 饒嵐) sees veteran soprano singer Roa Lan (饒嵐) perform with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (臺北市立交響樂團,TSO) under the baton of Roman Brogli-Sacher. There will be a program of songs ranging from Strauss to Yunan folk tunes.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800 and are available through NTCH ticketing
An Evening of Taiwanese Songs - 2008 New Year Concert by the Taichung City Symphony Orchestra (TCSO) (台語歌謠之夜 - 台中市交響樂團2008新年音樂會) sees the TCSO perform a program of local favorites.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,500 and are available through ERA ticketing
Piano Music by the Ai River - A Concert by Rueibin Chen (愛河琴緣 - 鋼琴大師陳瑞斌音樂會) sees the highly regarded pianist performing with the Capriccio Chamber Orchestra (綺想室內樂團) in a program that includes pieces by Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Chen's own Ai River Capriccio.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心) at 332, Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$4,200 and are available through ERA ticketing
Contemporary
Alt-rock bands Point 22 (.22) and Johnny and the Fatsticks perform tonight at Bliss.
■ 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). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com. For more information on performances at Bliss, go to www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse
■ Tonight's music starts at 10pm. Bar and kitchen are open from 7pm daily
■ Entrance to the bar is free. Cover for the live music upstairs is NT$200
929 plays tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow it's iconic crooner Chen Ming-chang (陳明章) and his Tamsui River Band (淡水走唱團). Singer and multi-instrument whiz Suming (姜聖明), also of indie-rock band Totem (圖騰) and Echo G.S. (艾可菊斯), perform on Sunday.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). 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 Sunday to Wednesday; 11am to 1am Thursday to Saturday
■ NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Tonight's Faith Yang (楊乃文) mini-concert at The Wall (這牆) is sold out. Veteran indie-rockers Back Quarter (四分衛) take to the stage for two sets tomorrow. On Sunday, it's low-key indie-rock duo Zag Lope (柴可洛噗), noise band Black Faith With Sonic Pace (黑色信念跟隨著音速腳步) and post-rockers Emily (艾蜜莉). The ultra-low-key post-rock group Juands of Magic, psychedelic alt-rock band lat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部) and alt-rock band Johnny and Eeyore perform on Wednesday. Then on Thursday, it's funk combo New Hong Kong Hair City and alt-rockers Neon.
■ 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 log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
■ The music starts at 8pm. Indie-rock and heavy metal record stores, cafe, tattoo parlor and street fashion shops in the downstairs arcade open daily
■ Entrance for shows is NT$400 tomorrow and NT$300 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one drink
Underworld (地下社會) presents psychedelic alt-rock band Flat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部) tonight, alt-country band Point 22 (.22) tomorrow and funk-rock band Da Bones (骨頭) with grunge-rockers Capelin (柳葉魚) on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ Bands start playing after 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, except Mondays
■ Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one drink
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts the Hen Ching Ge (恨情歌) group tonight. Tomorrow it's CC Asia Mega Mix (嘻嘻亞洲大車拼), featuring electronica composer Moshang with rappers Kuo Chou-ching (拷秋勤) and Chang Jui-chuan (張睿銓) and experimental jazz artist Andre van Rensburg, Sudev Bangah, Mobazza, rapper Joy Topper (朱頭皮), hip-hop performance DJ duo, Byeongjun Joo and Sangjun Jang, and Maria Elisa Sempio Diy. Sunday is a night with veteran power-chord band Assassin (刺客). Monday is Open-Jam Night. The venue is closed on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it's singer Chuo Ting-chu (卓庭竹) and indie-rock act Lucky Q. Then on Thursday, jazz singer/guitarist Joanna Wang (王若琳), who got her start at Riverside, celebrates the release of her major-label debut album Start From Here, followed by pop pianist Dear Josh (陳熙).
■ 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
■ Shows start at 9:30pm, except tomorrow's, which starts at 9pm
■ NT$400 tonight, tomorrow;
NT$350 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one free drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Mondays
Rock band Enjoy (享樂) and solo artist No Name perform tonight at the Living Room (小客廳). Folk guitarist Shotetsu (舒吉吉) returns to the Living Room again on Thursday.
■ 3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
■ 9pm tonight; 8pm Thursday
■ NT$300 admission and NT$50 recommended donation for Enjoy; NT$300 admission and NT$200 recommended donation for No Name; NT$300 admission and NT$50 recommended donation for Shotetsu
In Taichung, it's Salsa Night tonight at Grooveyard, a non-smoking event with professional instructors who teach salsa and merengue to the tune of Cuban music.
■ 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung City (台中市華美西街105號2樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Tonight's salsa runs from 8pm to 10pm
■ There is no cover
Taichung's 89k music pub hosts hip-hop/ roots act Militant Hippi tonight.
■ 21 Takuan Rd, Taichung City (台中市大觀路21號). Call (04) 2320-7010 for more information
■ The music starts at 10pm
■ NT$250 admission
Exhibition
Dance of the Dotted Line - Tsai Hai-ju Solo Exhibition (虛線之舞 - 蔡海如個展). Featuring seven pieces of sculpture, image projection and interactive installation, the exhibition sheds new light on women's multiple roles and identities in society as women, daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law, female artists and laborers.
■ Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), 2 Sheshihu, Chinshan Township, Taipei County (台北縣金山鄉西勢湖2號).
■ Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2498-9940
■ Through March 23
True Colors - Photo Exhibition of Li Yu-ching (真面目 - 李玉清攝影展). Photojournalist Li spent one year following self-made political persona and street protester Ko Szu-hai (柯賜海) in 2004. The end result is Li's sober critique on the ills of Taiwanese society portrayed through a series of portraits. In the exhibit statement, Li writes: "He is an imitator ... surrounded by tens of thousands of illusions that were born and died within seconds ... . Imitation is his truth. He is nothing else beyond it.
■ Cafe Noir (咖啡黑), 29 Siwei Rd, Taipei City (台北市四維路29號)
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 10pm. Call (02) 2325-6886
■ Through Jan. 31
Ho Chi-hung Solo Exhibition - Images Compressed in a Space (何志宏個展 - 圖像的閉合空間). Artist Ho aims to create a visual vibration out of geometric patterns compressed within the frame of canvas. In so doing, an illusion that the space within the painting is self-contained and independent of the world is highlighted to lead visitors to the "sensory space" of the works.
■ Gallery 41 (斯依畫廊), 41, Ln 100, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段100巷41號)
■ Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am to 8pm. Call (02) 8773-5089
■ Through Feb. 29
Rewriting - Solo Exhibition by Mark Wen-hsiang Chen (竄寫 - 陳文祥個展). Inspired by children's magic drawing boards, artist Chen mimics, falsifies and make copies of some of the best-known masterpieces in the art history of the West. He uses the toy to experiment with its aesthetic potential.
■ Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路二段11巷15-2號)
■ Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 2561-1548
■ Through Feb. 2
Animamix (超動漫). Following on the heels of 3rd Life 4th Dimension organized by Metaphysical Art Gallery, this exhibition, featuring works by artists from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and the US, illustrates the aesthetics of animamix (animation and comics). It also celebrates the gallery's reopening.
■ Metaphysical Art Gallery (形而上畫廊), 7F, 219, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段219號7F).
■ Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6:30pm. Call (02) 2771-3236
■ Through Jan. 27
March 24 to March 30 When Yang Bing-yi (楊秉彝) needed a name for his new cooking oil shop in 1958, he first thought of honoring his previous employer, Heng Tai Fung (恆泰豐). The owner, Wang Yi-fu (王伊夫), had taken care of him over the previous 10 years, shortly after the native of Shanxi Province arrived in Taiwan in 1948 as a penniless 21 year old. His oil supplier was called Din Mei (鼎美), so he simply combined the names. Over the next decade, Yang and his wife Lai Pen-mei (賴盆妹) built up a booming business delivering oil to shops and
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