Theater and dance
Dancer/choreographer Lin Wen-chung (林文中) and his WCdance troupe bring their traveling production of Small to the Wenshan Branch of the Taipei Cultural Center this weekend. The former Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company member created the piece for the premiere of his own company last year. Lin confines his dancers to a plexiglass cube, yet creates a wide world of possibilities within that small space.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday 22 at 2:30pm at the Children’s Educational Center Theater of the Taipei Cultural Center, Wenshan Branch (台北市社教館文山分館兒童劇場), B2, 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號B2); Dec. 4 at 7:30pm and Dec. 5 at 2:30pm and 7:30 pm at the Experimental Theater at No. 20 Warehouse, Taichung (台中二十號倉庫實驗劇場), 6-1, Ln 37, Fuxing Rd Sec 4, Taichung City (台中市復興路四段37巷6-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 for this weekend, NT$350 for the Taichung shows, available through www.artstickets.com.tw or NTCH outlets
The legendary I Wan Jan Puppet Theater (亦宛然掌中劇團) presents one of its masterpieces, 300 Years of Ching Dynasty — Keng Yao (清宮三百年之羹堯). Premiered in 1948 under the direction of late troupe founder and puppet master Li Tien-lu (李天祿), the show toured across the country for the following 13 years and has come to be known as the forerunner of Taiwan’s golden light puppetry (金光戲). The puppet show is divided into two parts, which are performed tomorrow and Sunday respectively.
■ Central II Hall at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914中二館) (formerly known as Huashan Culture Park, 華山文化園區), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$100 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Village (寶島一村) takes a nostalgic look at Taiwan’s veterans’ villages, or juan cun (眷村), 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.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Part of the Young Stars, New Vision 2009 series of dance and theater performances initiated by the National Theater and Concert Hall to showcase emerging talents, Theatre II (戲劇—穿梭虛與實) consists of two shows: The Smell of … (鼻子記) is director Wang Ke yao’s (王珂瑤) experiment that incorporates the sense of smell in theater, while Encounters in Space (與我，相逢在宇宙盡頭) by Aimee Liu (劉岱萱) plays out as a fantasy where high school student Harry has an encounter with three other Harrys who all claim to be him.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the 14th Crown Arts Festival (第14屆皇冠藝術節), The Two of Us (我們) by Comedians Workshop II (可以演戲劇團) sees experienced performers Huang Shi-wei (黃士偉) and Hsieh Yi-ching (謝宜靜) play twins, a brother and sister who decide to be cruelly honest with each other on their 40th birthday.
■ 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). On the Net: www.ntat.org/14caf
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$450, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Man Gang — The Unarmed Men (男人幫—霸王卸甲) is a play by Taiwan Drama Performance (台灣戲劇表演家) that tells a story about five middle-aged men, their memories, yearnings and lost loves.
■ Chiayi Performing Arts Center (嘉義縣表演藝術中心演藝廳), 265, Jianguo Rd Sec 2, Minhsiung Township, Chiayi County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$250 to NT$1,200, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
Mercedes-Benz Classical Music Festival — Yo-Yo Ma Cello Recital (世紀古典音樂年2009 — 馬友友大提琴獨奏會) sees one of the world’s most renowned cellists performing a program that includes Brahms’ Sonata No. 1 in E Minor and Franck’s Sonata in A Major, as well as a number of popular works such as Ennio Morricone’s theme music from the The Mission, Gershwin’s Prelude No. 2 and Piazzolla’s Soledad. Ma will be accompanied on piano by Kathryn Stott.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$1,800 to NT$6,000, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.tickets.com.tw
A Night of Cellos — Ou-Yang Ling-yi and Her Cello Orchestra (大提琴重奏音樂會之夜 — by 歐陽伶宜大提琴重奏團) presents a group of cello students from Soochow University (東吳大學) led by mentor Ou-Yang Ling-yi (歐陽伶宜) in a program of music arranged for an orchestra of cellos. The program includes Handel’s Allegro Maestoso From Water Music, Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Telemann’s Concerto for Cello Quartet in G Major, and Erik Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
■ Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Grass Mountain Yearly Concert (2009草山風雲樂會) brings together young Chinese musicians to perform a mix of popular folk favorites and classics from the Chinese orchestral tradition.
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
No shows are scheduled tonight at the The Wall (這牆), but tomorrow is a triple-header of hard-hitting rockers: metal group Assassin (刺客), Gang X (流氓樂團), and alt-rock pioneers The Chairman (董事長樂團). On Sunday it’s Japanese group te’, a band that performs rock instrumentals full of hardcore verve and pleasing melodies. Pop singer Huang Hung-sheng (黃鴻升) appears on Wednesday, and emo-punks Punkhoo (胖虎) perform on Thursday.
■ 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 tomorrow, 7pm on Sunday, 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tomorrow, NT$1,000 on Sunday (NT$800 in advance), NT$300 on Wednesday and NT$300 Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Singer-songwriter Mayonnaise (美乃滋) opens tonight at Witch House (女巫店) for pop-rockers Soundboss (騷包). Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) takes the stage tomorrow with her backing group, the Bad Jokes Band (冷笑話樂團). Acoustic guitarist Su-jer (舒吉吉) and keyboardist Anie Fann perform on Thursday.
■ 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 fee for music shows is NT$300
Fusion Night performs jazz tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Singer-songwriter WeiBird (韋禮安) presents soul pop material tomorrow. On Sunday Yanjue (嚴爵), who plays blues, funk and folk, opens for singer Devin Wu (吳佩珊). Young Mando-pop talent A-bin (方炯鑌) takes the stage on Monday.
■ 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 on Sunday, 8:30pm on Monday.
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$400 on Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts Issue Chen (陳以岫), a singer featured on the TV reality show Super Idol (超級偶像). The venue hosts a different singer from the program for the next four Fridays. Tomorrow night pop singer Shi Ying-ying (史茵茵) throws a CD release party for her Christmas album Silent Night (平安夜). On Sunday rock session bassist Billy Sheehan holds a master clinic sponsored by Yamaha. On Thursday Puyuma guitarist and singer Hao-en (昊恩) shares the bill with Mando-pop singer-songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) and her backing group, the Bad Jokes Band (冷笑話樂團).
■ 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 8pm tonight, 8:30pm tomorrow, 7:30pm on Sunday, 8:30pm on Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$500 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow, NT$250 on Sunday and NT$400 on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Japanese punk bands Teenation,
V/acation and Devcornelius appear tonight at Underworld (地下社會). [See Highlight below.] Tomorrow nu-metal band RJ45 (石頭果醬) takes the stage. Oh!Serena and Smells Good split the bill on Wednesday.
■ 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 is NT$500 tonight (NT$400 in advance) and NT$300 tomorrow, which includes one drink. NT$100 on Wednesday
Flaneur Daguerre, a jazz quartet that plays everything Bach to Bjork and Ornette Coleman to the Ramones, performs tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow Black Mirror takes to the stage. The Yohei Jazz Trio is on Tuesday, Ash and Friends perform jazz on “unorthodox” instruments on Wednesday, and the Sappho Jazz Band appears 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).
Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net:
www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays. Sappho is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is free
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include beloved female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Huang Chung-yuan
(黃中原), who performs every Friday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北 市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Three expat musicians team up tonight at Taichung’s 89k: Andy Goode of The Doolittles, Shawn Armstrong of The Stackers and Wade Davis of Point 22 (.22). The venue hosts ska powerhouse Skaraoke tomorrow night.
■ 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
The Mercury (水星酒館), a new club that opened a few months ago in Kaohsiung, features Taiwanese and expat indie bands. Taking to the stage tomorrow night is Bitter, a band out to resurrect the “Madchester” sound of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung (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 NT$100
Roxy Roots, a bar and restaurant dedicated to reggae and blues fans, hosts high-energy rockers 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽) tonight. Tomorrow it’s folk rockers Wounded Night, a four-piece expat/Taiwanese band with mandolin and fiddle as the lead instrumental voices.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號), Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Show starts at 9:30pm tomorrow
■ Entrance is free
Nov. 11 to Nov. 17 People may call Taipei a “living hell for pedestrians,” but back in the 1960s and 1970s, citizens were even discouraged from crossing major roads on foot. And there weren’t crosswalks or pedestrian signals at busy intersections. A 1978 editorial in the China Times (中國時報) reflected the government’s car-centric attitude: “Pedestrians too often risk their lives to compete with vehicles over road use instead of using an overpass. If they get hit by a car, who can they blame?” Taipei’s car traffic was growing exponentially during the 1960s, and along with it the frequency of accidents. The policy
Hourglass-shaped sex toys casually glide along a conveyor belt through an airy new store in Tokyo, the latest attempt by Japanese manufacturer Tenga to sell adult products without the shame that is often attached. At first glance it’s not even obvious that the sleek, colorful products on display are Japan’s favorite sex toys for men, but the store has drawn a stream of couples and tourists since opening this year. “Its openness surprised me,” said customer Masafumi Kawasaki, 45, “and made me a bit embarrassed that I’d had a ‘naughty’ image” of the company. I might have thought this was some kind
What first caught my eye when I entered the 921 Earthquake Museum was a yellow band running at an angle across the floor toward a pile of exposed soil. This marks the line where, in the early morning hours of Sept. 21, 1999, a massive magnitude 7.3 earthquake raised the earth over two meters along one side of the Chelungpu Fault (車籠埔斷層). The museum’s first gallery, named after this fault, takes visitors on a journey along its length, from the spot right in front of them, where the uplift is visible in the exposed soil, all the way to the farthest
The room glows vibrant pink, the floor flooded with hundreds of tiny pink marbles. As I approach the two chairs and a plush baroque sofa of matching fuchsia, what at first appears to be a scene of domestic bliss reveals itself to be anything but as gnarled metal nails and sharp spikes protrude from the cushions. An eerie cutout of a woman recoils into the armrest. This mixed-media installation captures generations of female anguish in Yun Suknam’s native South Korea, reflecting her observations and lived experience of the subjugated and serviceable housewife. The marbles are the mother’s sweat and tears,
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