THEATER
The Puppet & Its Double Theater (無獨有偶工作室劇團) turns the art of paper cutting into a theater of fantasy and imagination in The Cutter of Happiness (剪紙人), where human actors and puppets perform together to tell a fairy tale about a little boy and his grandma who cut paper for a living in a mountain village.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:45pm, tomorrow at 2:45pm and 7:45pm, Sunday at 2:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For The Impossible Times
(渭水春風), the last installment of the Taiwan Musical Trilogy, the All Musical Theatre Company (音樂時代劇場) collaborates with Flux Waves Dance Theater (流浪舞蹈劇場) and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) to tell the story of the legendary life of Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水), an important figure in Taiwan’s resistance movement against Japanese colonial rule.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:45pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:45pm and 7:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Capital Ballet Taipei (台北首督芭蕾舞團) presents Ballet Sonata (舞言歌) and My Senses (我的眼耳口鼻). The former is inspired by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini’s String Sonata No. 1 and No. 2. The latter piece tells of a composer’s dream in which performers become the embodiments of vice and virtue. [See story above.]
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In Meeting Pandora (遇見潘朵拉) by What’s Theatre, part of the Taipei Fringe Festival (台北藝穗節), two women journey into secrets hidden inside Pandora’s box. The show contains violence and nudity. Audience discretion is advised.
■ Bamboo Room, Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村幽竹廳), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$175 to NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Red Monster & Blue Monster
(紅鬼青鬼) by the Theatre Company of Wanhua (萬華劇團) is a theatrical performance that explores the
spiritual realm.
■ B2, Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館B2), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號).
■ Tomorrow at 6pm
■ Free admission
CLASSICAL MUSIC
A series of concerts organized by The Frederic Chopin Foundation of Taipei (財團法人蕭邦音樂基金會) to celebrate the bicentenary of Chopin’s birth opens tonight with An Evening of Chopin Etudes (練習曲之夜), featuring Russian-trained pianist Andrei Yeh (葉孟儒) performing 27 Chopin etudes. This will be followed tomorrow by An Evening of Chopin Nocturnes and Preludes (夜曲與前奏曲之夜) in which Chen Pi-hsien (陳必先), who has been praised by the European media as the “Chinese miracle,” will perform 24 nocturnes and preludes. On Sunday, an Afternoon of Chopin Ballades and Impromtus (敘事曲與即興曲之會) will feature performances by Lu Chia-hui (盧佳慧), Chen Tze-yi (陳孜怡) and former Council for Cultural Affairs Chairwoman Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀).
■ Today and tomorrow 7:30pm,
Sunday 2:30pm
■ Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000
for all concerts, available through
NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦CHOPIN國際音樂節), Vietnamese-born pianist Dang Thai-Son will perform in a series of concerts in Kaohsiung, Taipei and Taichung. Trained at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Dang has been recognized as a major Chopin interpreter after winning the Chopin Competition last year.
■ Wednesday (Kaohsiung) and Thursday at 7:30pm (Taipei), Sept. 19 at 2:30pm (Taichung)
■ 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); National Concert Hall, Taipei City; Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,600 (Taipei), available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw. Also available through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks
Listening to Taiwan — NTSO Cross-Strait Cultural Exchange Concert (樂見台灣 — 2010 NTSO 兩岸藝文交流) is a concert by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立台灣交響樂團) in preparation for its tour of China, with stops in Suzhou and Shanghai next month. The concert will feature two works by Chinese composers, including Tyzen Hsiao’s (蕭泰然) Concerto for Violin in D Minor, Op. 50 and Bao Yuankai’s (鮑元愷) Musical Portraits of Taiwan (臺灣音畫選曲). The program will also include Stravinsky’s Concerto for Violin in D Minor and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ 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)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
CONTEMPORARY
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tomorrow pop diva A-mei (阿妹) performs as her alter-ego Amit (阿密特) in a show that’s being billed “See You Next Time/Special Private Live” (阿密特再,見!私.密) Wednesday features two groups that sing or rap in Hakka: rock band Zenkwun (神棍樂團) and hip-hop outfit Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 6pm tomorrow and 8:30pm on Wednesday
■ Entrance is NT$1,000 tomorrow (tickets available only through Rose Records outlets, for locations and more information visit www.g-music.iticket.com.tw/#SaleSite). Wednesday’s show is NT$500 (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at
7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Metal-core/emo band 831 (八三夭) appears tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s premier venue for indie rock artists. Tomorrow night the venue hosts Jun Onose, aka J, front man for the popular Japanese art rock band Luna Sea. On Sunday it’s upbeat punks Punkhoo (胖虎樂團) and KoOk (庫克) and garage rockers Mary See the Future.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, 7pm tomorrow and 7:30pm Sunday
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight (NT$400 in advance), NT$1,700 tomorrow (NT$1500 in advance) and NT$500 Sunday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店) hosts performances from both indie-rock bands and folk artists in a coffeehouse setting. Tonight it’s up-and-coming pop singer-songwriter Andrew Yeh (葉懷佩). Tomorrow popular folk-rock singer Europa Huang (黃建為) takes the stage. Acoustic group Xiaoyu Watermelon (小玉西瓜) appears 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 for music shows is NT$300
Tonight the Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts Dark Eyes (夜幕之眼), which performs gypsy jazz. Tomorrow it’s all-girl rock band Cherry Boom (櫻桃幫) and Malaysian Mando-pop singer Rynn Lim (林宇中). On Sunday it’s solo acoustic artist Gelresai (陳世川) and singer Leo Chen (陳永龍), both members of the Aboriginal music collective Wild Fire Music (野火樂集). The venue hosts its weekly open jam 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 and 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts a group of aspiring Mando-pop singers, which include Hsu Che-wei (徐哲緯) and James Chu (祝鏘博). Tomorrow it’s rapper Dr Reniculous Lipz (白悟空) and The Skallyunz, who share the bill with pop-rock bands P!SCO and Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子). On Thursday it’s Bearland (貝爾藍德) and Mando-pop singer-songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩).
■ 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, 8pm tomorrow and 8:30pm on Thursday
■ Entrance is NT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Thursday. Tickets
can purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts Japanese indie rock band Mugen-hoso and electro-rock outfit Varo, a band led by Huang Wan-ting (黃晼婷), guitarist of the now-defunct girl punk group Ladybug and post-rock band Tin Pan Alley (錫盤街). Tomorrow the venue hosts beloved wacky indie rockers and Spring Scream legends The Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊), with Parachutes (降落傘) as the opening act. On Wednesday it’s Tough Black Tea (硬式紅茶).
■ 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 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink, and NT$100
on Wednesdays
Paris-born, New York-based saxophonist Alex Terrier performs tonight at Sappho de Base, the late-night lounge bar and hangout for musicians from Taipei’s jazz and blues scene. Tomorrow it’s the Earl Hines II Jazztet. On Tuesday Joy and Friends take the stage. Grace’s Jazz Trio plays on Wednesday. On Thursday Misterioso, composed of a guitarist and drummer, performs the songs of Thelonius Monk and Ornette Coleman.
■ 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 tonight and tomorrow and 10pm on
all other nights
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight, NT$150 tomorrow, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), who performs every Saturday.
■ 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
Tonight at Roxy Roots it’s blues, psychedelic soul and surf rock from the Blues Vibrations. Tomorrow night is ladies night for Fiesta Latino, which features a live band and DJs.
■ 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 10pm
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300 (NT$200 credited toward food and drinks). Free entrance for women for Fiesta Latino night tomorrow
Taipei Swing holds dance socials
on Friday nights at Capone’s, with live music from blues band BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels are welcome, and beginner’s lessons are offered while the band takes a break. Tomorrow drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays there’s a minimum charge of one drink (dancers receive a drink coupon). On Saturdays the minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight features upbeat punks Punkhoo (胖虎樂團) and KoOk (庫克) and garage rockers Mary See The Future. Singer Huang Jie (黃玠) takes the stage tomorrow.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow
Tomorrow The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts post-rock group Silverbus (銀巴士).
■ 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
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
While Americans face the upcoming second Donald Trump presidency with bright optimism/existential dread in Taiwan there are also varying opinions on what the impact will be here. Regardless of what one thinks of Trump personally and his first administration, US-Taiwan relations blossomed. Relative to the previous Obama administration, arms sales rocketed from US$14 billion during Obama’s eight years to US$18 billion in four years under Trump. High-profile visits by administration officials, bipartisan Congressional delegations, more and higher-level government-to-government direct contacts were all increased under Trump, setting the stage and example for the Biden administration to follow. However, Trump administration secretary
A “meta” detective series in which a struggling Asian waiter becomes the unlikely hero of a police procedural-style criminal conspiracy, Interior Chinatown satirizes Hollywood’s stereotypical treatment of minorities — while also nodding to the progress the industry has belatedly made. The new show, out on Disney-owned Hulu next Tuesday, is based on the critically adored novel by US author Charles Yu (游朝凱), who is of Taiwanese descent. Yu’s 2020 bestseller delivered a humorous takedown of racism in US society through the adventures of Willis Wu, a Hollywood extra reduced to playing roles like “Background Oriental Male” but who dreams of one day
Gabriel Gatehouse only got back from Florida a few minutes ago. His wheeled suitcase is still in the hallway of his London home. He was out there covering the US election for Channel 4 News and has had very little sleep, he says, but you’d never guess it from his twinkle-eyed sprightliness. His original plan was to try to get into Donald Trump’s election party at Mar-a-Lago, he tells me as he makes us each an espresso, but his contact told him to forget it; it was full, “and you don’t blag your way in when the guy’s survived two
Burnt-out love-seekers are shunning dating apps in their millions, but the apps are trying to woo them back with a counter offer: If you don’t want a lover, perhaps you just need a friend? The giants of the industry — Bumble and Match, which owns Tinder — have both created apps catering to friendly meetups, joining countless smaller platforms that have already entered the friend zone. Bumble For Friends launched in July last year and by the third quarter of this year had around 730,000 monthly active users, according to figures from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Bumble has also acquired the
RSS