Theater
Shun-Kin is a coproduction by the British theater company Complicite and Japan’s Setogaya Public Theatre. Adapted from Junichiro Tanizaki’s two masterpieces A Portrait of Shunkin and In Praise of Shadows, the play tells the tragic love story of a puppet artist and her servant with Japanese actress Eri Fukatsu turning in a fine performance as the blind puppeteer.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For The Waste Land (荒原), esteemed theater director Wang Mo-lin (王墨林) charts how the utopian dreams of two political activists, played by veteran actors Arika Chen (陳文彬) and Li Tien-chu (李天柱), fade to a dull pipe dream some three decades later. The production crew includes video artist Chen Chieh-jen (陳界仁) as stage designer and experimental filmmaker Tony Wu (吳俊輝) as visual designer.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In The Sissies Unite on Doomsday (娘娘鎗末日大團結) by the all-male Blushing Diva (洪綾金粉劇團) group, Madam Betty, CEO of the True Moral Building Committee, takes refuge inside an underground bomb shelter together with her servants, a married lesbian friend and the family’s teacher, as doomsday approaches. Little do they know that the shelter was once Doctor Evil and his Vamp Army’s lair and that a nasty surprise lurks within.
■ Red House Theater (西門紅樓), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$800, available NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In Extramarital Correspondence (婚外信行為), veteran director Hugh Lee (李國修) of Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班) explores a love triangle involving 12 men and women, three marriages and six families.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 and NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Godot Theatre’s (果陀劇場) The 17 Years Itch (17年之癢) is a romantic comedy about how a middle-aged man played by Lee Li-chun (李立群) deals with not one but three itches during his 17-year marriage.
■ 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)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Part of the International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦CHOPIN國際音樂節), Taiwan-born pianist Yen Chun-chieh (嚴俊傑) will perform a selection of Chopin works in a number of concerts around the country over the next two weeks. The tour opens in Taichung and will be followed by concerts in Kaohsiung (Dec. 24), Ilan (Dec. 26) and Taipei (Dec. 28).
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ 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$350 to NT$1,000, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw. Also available through ibon, FamiPort and Life-ET kiosks nationwide
Boulier and Zoubritski Perform With the Academy of Taiwan Strings (法國小提琴家浦利葉、查布利斯基與ATS) is a concert that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Academy of Taiwan Strings as a professional group. The concert features violinists Christophe Boulier and Efim Zoubritski, who specialize in gypsy-inflected arrangements of classical music, as well as play their own repertoire of music from Eastern Europe. They will present a program that includes arrangements of Pugnani, Paganini and Delplace, and a number of traditional melodies.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Pingtung) and Wednesday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Pingtung County Art Center (屏東縣藝術館), 427 Heping Rd, Pingtung City (屏東市和平路427號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800 (Pingtung) and NT$400 to NT$2,000 (Taipei), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO Classics — War Requiem (NSO精選 — 戰爭安魂曲) is a production of Benjamin Britten’s 1962 work, a modern setting of a requiem mass that mixes traditional Latin liturgy with passages of poetry by the war poet Wilfred Owen. The National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) will be conducted by Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉), with the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus performing under choir masters Dirk Du (杜黑) and Johnny Ku (古育仲). Performers include Annalena Person (soprano), Will Hartmann (tenor) and Shigeo Ishino (baritone). [See story above.]
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, 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. This weekend it’s Japanese pop group Kalfina, best known for their anime soundtracks. Tomorrow, Aboriginal indie-rock musician Suming (舒米恩) is holding a free concert.
■ 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)
■ 8pm tonight and tomorrow
■ NT$1,800 tonight, free tomorrow. 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
Pop singer Jet (易桀齊) takes to the stage tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Tomorrow a trio of funky psychedelic rockers take to the stage: Pumpkinney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部), Flat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部) and PageDown. On Sunday, it’s J-pop singer Mikuni Shimokawa, who is currently on tour. Award-winning Mando-pop singer-songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) takes to the stage on Wednesday with her backing group, the Bad Jokes Band (冷笑話樂團).
■ 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, tomorrow and Thursday, 7:30pm on Sunday. Shows usually start on time
■ Entrance is NT$500 tonight and tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$1,500 on Sunday and NT$400 on Wednesday (NT$300 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Happy-go-lucky indie band Relax One (輕鬆玩) performs tonight at Witch House (女巫店), which regularly hosts performances from both indie rock bands and folk artists in a coffeehouse setting. Tomorrow it’s jazz music from guitar and bass outfit Duology. On Thursday, fingerpicking acoustic guitar duo Woody Woody takes to the stage.
■ 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
■ Shows 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
A jazz fusion band led by pianist Fred Lu (呂聖斐) performs tonight at the Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s rock band Mojo, while on Sunday the venue hosts fingerpicking acoustic guitar duo Woody Woody. Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm 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, NT$500 tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Singer-songwriter duo He (有激人) performs tonight at Riverside Live House. The pair will be joined by special guests Puyuma Aboriginal singer Leo Chen (陳永龍) and solo acoustic artist Gelresai (陳世川). Tomorrow veteran indie-pop mod-rockers 1976 take to the stage [see story on Page 13].
■ 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
■ 8:30pm tonight and tomorrow
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Nintendo Generation Blues (任天堂世代憂鬱) and electro-rock band Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車) play tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei that hosts indie bands. Tomorrow, it’s pop-punks Peppercats (胡椒貓) and girl-power band Braces (牙套) for a “pre-Christmas party.” On Wednesday, the venue hosts electronica DJs Yingfan Psalmanazar (黑(暗校園民歌之)狼) and Chang Yo-sheng (張又升).
■ 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
■ 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
Tonight Flaneur Daguerre, which plays everything from free jazz and Balkan folk to classical and rock ‘n’ roll, performs at Sappho de Base, a late night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow it’s the Jason Hayashi Quartet. On Tuesday, MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues and on Wednesday gypsy jazz group Dark Eyes takes to the stage.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$150 tomorrow and free Monday and NT$100 on Wednesday
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. Legendary pub songstress and pop singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥) performs on Mondays.
■ 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
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Soul jazz singer Djavan performs on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s. 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, minimum charge of one drink, dancers receive a free drink coupon. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at The Tavern. Dancers of all levels are welcome, and a short beginner’s lesson is offered.
■ 415, Xinyi Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段415號). tel: (02) 8789-0892. On the Net: www.tavern.com.tw
■ 9:30pm to midnight
■ Entrance is free
89k, Taichung’s long-established spot for local indie bands, tonight hosts DJs Waks and Edify. Tomorrow, Kaohsiung expat band Wounded Night performs.
■ 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Starts tonight and tomorrow at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow
The Checkered Record Club, an indie music club in Tainan, hosts rockabilly band Double Strike, punk group Random and The Tennessee Studs tonight. Tomorrow it’s Mr Dirty, indie rockers Yoz Tiger (包子虎) and punk group We Are So Sad (傷心欲絕).
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd, Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222-3238
■ Shows starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). On Sunday, the venue hosts Suming (舒米恩), who is holding a free concert.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts high-energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) tomorrow night.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Admission is NT$200, which includes one drink
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