Theater
Tony-award winning musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe makes its Taipei debut tonight. Director Brook Hall has changed the work slightly to suit local tastes and the show’s 13 multi-talented actors all hail from Taiwan. Performances are in English with Chinese subtitles.
▲National Taiwan Arts Education Center (國立台灣藝術教育館本部及演藝廳), 47 Nanhai Rd, Taipei City (台北市南海路47號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$900, available through NTCH ticketing
The Village (寶島一村) takes a nostalgic look at Taiwan’s veteran villages through the lives of three families, from 1949 to the present day. Television producer Wang Wei-chung (王偉忠) teams up with respected director Stan Lai (賴聲川) to produce a dramatic and humorous work about the communities that did much to shape modern Taiwan.
▲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$400 to NT$2,800, available through NTCH ticketing
Tickets for Godot Theater Company’s (果陀劇場) much-anticipated Chinese-language production of Shakespeare’s Othello (針鋒對決) are running out fast. The production features accomplished Taiwanese stage actors Lee Li-chun (李立群) and Chih Shih-chieh (金士傑). [See Page 14 of the Sept. 19, 2008, edition of the Taipei Times for a review of the production.]
▲Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$4,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Human Condition (人間條件) by Green Ray Theater (綠光劇團) centers on the life of a 17-year-old girl who rebels against her dysfunctional family’s listless existence. One day, the grandmother’s spirit returns and possesses her teenage granddaughter.
▲Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段505號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through ERA ticketing
Classical music
Ariel Sung 2009 Concert (宋文2009台灣演唱會) features Canada-based soprano Ariel Sung (宋文) in concert with the Evergreen Philharmonic Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) under Gernot Schmalfuss. She will perform arias by Offenbach, Puccini, Massenet and Mascagni.
▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲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)
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Serenade, Dance, Intoxication — Philharmonia Moment Musical with Wang Si-ya and Giuseppe Cataldo (舞．夜．迷離 — 王思雅朱塞佩卡塔多vs 樂興之時) will showcase This Time, That Time (此時彼時) by composer Wang Si-ya (王思雅), a work for multimedia and small orchestra. The rest of the program includes Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major Op. 92. Music will be performed by Philharmonia Moment Musical (樂興之時) conducted by Giuseppe Cataldo.
▲Today at 7:30pm
▲Novel Hall (新舞台), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
35th Yamaha Junior Original Concert (第35屆山葉兒童創作曲發表會) is a concert for child composers and performers. Performances will be on piano or Electone, as solo pieces or with orchestral or choral accompaniment. More information about this international event for children can be found at
www.yamahakhs.com.
▲Tomorrow at Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號), and Sunday at Novel Hall (新舞台), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
▲Tickets for tomorrow are NT$150. The concert on Sunday is sold out
Contemporary
Tomorrow night at VU Live House the Dub Supervisors, a group of reggae bands and MCs, take over the house, with live music from High Tide and The Originals. Also appearing will be trip-hop musician Ritchie Partridge, formerly of Massive Attack, MCs Rankin Kim of Pan Africana and Shaman of THC, along with DJs Saucey, Ting, Katzu and Taili. [See Vinyl Word on Page 15.]
▲B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Tel: (02) 2314-1868
▲Show starts at 11pm tonight
▲NT$350 admission includes one drink
Tonight The Wall (這牆) hosts Scottish post-rock legends Mogwai, who christened the venue when it opened in 2003. [See story on Page 15.] Tomorrow’s show organized by Back 2 the Future (B2TF, 回到未來) and featuring Melt Banana, an experimental Japanese noise-rock band with a large following in the US and Europe, has been canceled due to a bandmember’s illness. Melt Banana plans to perform in Taipei later this year. Sunday’s show, which features indie-rock groups 1976, Tizzy Bac, 929 and Orangegrass
(橙草), is already sold out.
▲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 starts at 8pm tonight and 8pm Sunday
▲Entrance is NT$2,800 tonight and NT$400 on Sunday (sold out)
Tonight at Witch House, (女巫店) indie rockers Peppermint (薄荷葉) take to the stage, while tomorrow it’s Ricepublic (愛吃飯創作合作社), an acoustic group that combines guitar and bass with video presentations based on the theme of organic rice farming. On Thursday Yujun (榆鈞) will read poetry to the music of Japanese sitar player Yo, followed by indie-folk duo U.TA (屋塔樂團).
▲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 and includes one drink
Session guitarist Mike McLaughlin and bassist Brian Chiu (邱培榮) perform original blues, jazz and funk compositions with a drummer and keyboard player tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Mando-pop singer Shen Tung-ching (申東靖) makes his debut tomorrow night.
▲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 9pm
▲Entrance is NT$400 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow, includes one drink
Tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) in Ximending’s historic Red House Theater (西門紅樓), it’s Mando-pop singers Lan You-shi (藍又時) and A-pay (阿霈). Pop singer Victor Wong (品冠) performs a “New Year’s concert” tomorrow night. 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
▲Shows starts at 8:30pm
▲Entrance NT$450 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow, includes one drink
Dafu Jazz Trio performs tonight at Sappho de Base, while Canadian-UK folk and roots group The Dana Wylie Band appears tomorrow night. On Tuesday it’s Free Breathing Ensemble (世界軌跡), which features the sounds of tabla, bass, accordion and violin. On Wednesday, The Chris Stiles Jazz Trio plays original compositions, while the Sea Journey Jazz Combo (海洋知音爵士樂團), a four-piece group with vibraphone, bass, drums and guitar, plays 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
▲No admission fee
Tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar Rubber Band plays rock, pop and dance music. House band Loaded, which plays rock covers, appears tomorrow. On Sunday it’s an open acoustic jam.
▲1F, 56, Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North (復興北) and Minquan East (民權東) roads. Tel: (02) 2517-3869
▲Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30am tonight and tomorrow, and 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sunday
▲No admission fee
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會), it’s psychedelic alt-rock band Flat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部) and hip-hop rockers Living Force (存活勢力). Tomorrow Sons of Homer, a rocking quintet of mock-hipsters [see story on Page 15], and The Originals, a band that plays mash-ups of popular rock, take to the stage. On Wednesday it’s Summerbred (夏生一人大樂隊) and Red Coat.
▲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 tonight and tomorrow are from 9:30pm to 11:30pm, and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Bar open daily from 9pm, except Mondays
▲Entrance for the music shows is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink; shows on Wednesdays are NT$100
Tonight Bliss hosts Sons of Homer. [See story on Page 15.] Tomorrow electro-rock and multimedia band Gross Fugue appears with disco punk DJs Sound Sister Syndicate.
▲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 live performances at Bliss, visit www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse
▲Tomorrow at 10pm. Bar/kitchen open from 7pm daily. Ladies night Fridays; women get one free cocktail of their choice
▲NT$200 cover for the music shows tonight and tomorrow
Both established and aspiring Taiwanese pop musicians perform regularly at the EZ5 Live House. This homey pub and restaurant on Anhe Road with a diverse clientele is one of the few places where people actually turn off their cell phones and listen attentively to the performers. The venue hosts three different singers every night. Recommended performers include beloved female crooner Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, and Julia Peng (彭佳慧), who appears on Tuesdays. Other highlights this week include Liu Wei-zen (劉偉仁) on Tuesday and Wednesday and Hsing Lung (辛隆) on Saturday.
▲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, is NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic, held by the Blues Society on Taiwan. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass or drums.
▲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
▲8pm to 11pm every Wednesday
▲No admission fee
Exhibitions
You Are My Flowers (你是我的花朵 — 名家花卉小品展). Capital Art Center celebrates the New Year with an exhibition on flowers that includes water colors, oil paintings and multi-media works in impressionistic, expressionistic and post-modern styles by renowned artists including Max Liu (劉其偉) and Chang Yi-hsiung (張義雄).
▲Capital Art Center (首都藝術中心), 2F, 343, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段343號2樓). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 7pm. Tel: (02) 2775-5268
▲Until Jan. 24
New Animamix (新動漫) features works by such renowned figures in Asian art as Yoshitaka Amano, from Japan; Kim Don Yoo, Kwon Kisoo, Eddie Kang and Lee Lee Nam from South Korea; China’s Tang Zhigan (唐志岡) and Taiwan’s Liao Yu-an (廖堉安) and Hung Yi (洪易). Also included in the exhibit are works by super-realist, post-pop artist duo Thukral & Tagra, from India. Animamix is an art movement that draws from the aesthetics of anime and comics.
▲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7樓). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 6:30pm. Tel: (02) 2771-3236
▲Until Feb. 28
Special Recipe of Galerie Grand Siecle (私房菜). Galerie Grand Siecle has invited multimedia and performance artist Chen Yung-hsien (陳永賢) and digital artists Kuo I-chen (郭奕臣) and Wang Ya-Hui (王雅慧) to celebrate its 10th birthday. The six works on display consist of the trio’s rarely seen video, installation and digital pieces, which were made between 2002 and 2007.
▲Galerie Grand Siecle (新苑藝術), 17, Alley 51, Ln 12, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段12巷51弄17號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 1pm to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2578-5630
▲Until Feb. 2
Masters’ Collection Exhibition (名家典藏展) is an exhibition of more than 40 paintings by celebrated realist artists from Taiwan, China and Russia. The works include portraits, landscapes and still lifes.
▲Cathay United Art Center (國泰世華藝術中心), 7F, 236 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路236號7樓). Open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2717-0988
▲Until Feb. 6
Cyber-ring (虛鏡迴圈), the latest extension of the “Cyberbeings” series that Laza Wu (吳梓寧) has been working on since 2004, is a fantastical representation of cyber space with a glass floor and 360-degree projections.
▲National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立台灣美術館), 2, Wuchuan 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 Feb. 8
While global attention is finally being focused on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gray zone aggression against Philippine territory in the South China Sea, at the other end of the PRC’s infamous 9 dash line map, PRC vessels are conducting an identical campaign against Indonesia, most importantly in the Natuna Islands. The Natunas fall into a gray area: do the dashes at the end of the PRC “cow’s tongue” map include the islands? It’s not clear. Less well known is that they also fall into another gray area. Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim and continental shelf claim are not
Since their leader Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and others were jailed as part of several ongoing bribery investigations, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has risen in the polls. Additionally, despite all the many and varied allegations against Ko and most of the top people in the party, it has held together with only a tiny number of minor figures exiting. The TPP has taken some damage, but vastly less than the New Power Party (NPP) did after it was caught up in a bribery scandal in 2020. The TPP has for years registered favorability in the thirties, and a Formosa poll
Nov. 4 to Nov. 10 Apollo magazine (文星) vowed that it wouldn’t play by the rules in its first issue — a bold statement to make in 1957, when anyone could be jailed for saying the wrong thing. However, the introduction to the inaugural Nov. 5 issue also defined the magazine as a “lifestyle, literature and art” publication, and the contents were relatively tame for the first four years, writes Tao Heng-sheng (陶恒生) in “The Apollo magazine that wouldn’t play by the rules” (不按牌理出牌的文星雜誌). In 1961, the magazine changed its mission to “thought, lifestyle and art” and adopted a more critical tone with
Chiayi County is blessed with several worthwhile upland trails, not all of which I’ve hiked. A few weeks ago, I finally got around to tackling Tanghu Historic Trail (塘湖古道), a short but unusually steep route in Jhuci Township (竹崎). According to the Web site of the Alishan National Scenic Area (阿里山國家風景區), the path climbs from 308m above sea level to an elevation of 770m in just 1.58km, an average gradient of 29 percent. And unless you arrange for someone to bring you to the starting point and collect you at the other end, there’s no way to avoid a significant amount
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