14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008 • TAIPEI TIMES Love in the time of politics

Plum Blossom Fan (桃花扇) is that disregarded the sound and rhythms Diva Daughter (凍水牡丹 ─ 廖瓊枝與臺灣國 was a groundbreaking work for its time, The recognized as one of the two of Chinese speech. “The sounds of the 家國樂團), in which it provides orchestral incorporating intricately researched details greatest Chinese operatic love stories words and the music must fit together music to gezai opera (歌仔戲) in a semi- about the political background against dramatized during the Qing Dynasty (1644- if we are to create something that is not staged production at the National Concert which the central love story between 1911). Unlike The Pavilion of Eternal overshadowed by the conventions of the Hall on Sunday. a high-ranking official and a courtesan Youth (長生殿), with which it shares top Western musical,” he said. “My music for this production is played out. It is this broad canvas of honors, it is rarely performed on stage, Yu, a Western-trained musician with incorporates the musical language of many political rivalry, corruption and betrayal though the libretto is widely read and an interest in traditional Chinese opera kinds of regional opera into a complete that has made this opera so popular as appreciated for its poetic excellence. dating back 30 years, said that he has long orchestral score,” Yu said, distinguishing a work of literature. Whether this new This year, the National Taiwan College of nurtured an ambition to create orchestral it from other projects that he described collaboration will revive its fortunes in the Above: For the Apple Daily, two plus two makes five when it comes Performing Arts (國立臺灣戲曲學院) revived music that is a logical extension of Beijing as simply an orchestral arrangement of theater remains to be seen. to Elva Hsiao. the opera with a completely new score opera. “My aim is not to lead a revolution in established Beijing opera melodies. “This  — Ian Bartholomew written for symphony orchestra, which Beijing opera. All I want to do is take it one is not about any inadequacies in traditional Below: Mayday has usurped the king of Mando-pop. Photos: Taipei times premieres at the National Theater in step further ... In the same way that Beijing opera. It is simply that culture lives by resh from being crowned the “king” of the Mando-pop Taipei tonight. opera was an extension of the kun (崑) moving forward. We can cherish the past, charts, Jay Chou (周杰倫) was unceremoniously usurped With over 44 acts with over 30 major style. ... I want to give it a new potential. but we also need to add to it.” Flast week by Mayday (五月天). The pretty-boy rockers characters, the original opera by Kong Though it might be a single step, it is a step The Plum Blossom Fan in its own way announced that sales of their latest release Poetry of the Shangren (孔尚任) is a love story set against that is very difficult to take,” he said. Day After (後青春期的詩) totaled over 1.3 million copies, and political upheaval and the fall of a dynasty. Speaking at a press conference earlier noted that they edged past the Chairman’s Capricorn (魔杰 Tseng Yong-yi (曾永義), a professor of this month, Yu said he was struggling 座), which just broke the 1 million mark. literature at National Taiwan University, to integrate the complex physical Chou’s record company JVR Music (杰威爾音樂) took condensed the story to a two-and-a-half movements of Beijing opera with an the announcement as a dig. Instead of congratulating the hour format, cutting out many of the orchestral score. “The orchestra does not competition, the company issued a long-winded, huffy sub-plots and focusing on the central love have the same kind of rapport with the response that ended with, “there’s no need to brag,” reports story, while retaining something of the actors that is possible with a traditional the Liberty Times [the Taipei Times’ sister paper]. social and political backdrop, which are percussion and string ensemble,” he said. The hoopla left Mayday’s lead singer, A-hsin (阿信), central to the original work’s appeal. “The performers have had to adapt to a exasperated. “[Chou] is using Rubik’s Cubes [to sell records], Composer Yu Chang-fa (游昌發) wrote a totally new musical environment.” we’re doing concerts — it’s a lot more tiring,” said A-hsin, new score for the opera to be performed This sort of experimentation is referring to the Rubik’s Cubes plastered with Chou’s face by the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra (台北 relatively new and takes many different that are being offered as a freebie with his new album. But 愛樂管弦樂團). forms. Even as the Taipei Philharmonic he quickly composed himself. “Whoever’s number one is not The aim of this collaboration between is preparing to take the stage with Yu’s important. The most important thing is for everyone to have librettist and composer is to create a score, the National Chinese Orchestra good sales.” That is, just as long as Jay isn’t number one ... “modern Chinese musical.” Tseng said (NCO, 台灣國家國樂團) is also in intensive Only the Apple Daily can turn a pop idol’s mundane that in the past, Chinese musicals had rehearsals for Death and Love of My shopping trip into a lost- often used Western music in a manner Mother — The Reminiscence of the love-drove-her-to-drink- narrative. One of the paper’s ace reporters spotted Elva Hsiao (蕭亞 Performance notes: 軒) at the Breeze Center’s (微風廣場) supermarket, What: The Plum Blossom Fan (桃花扇) by the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts where the 28-year-old (國立臺灣戲曲學院) singer was looking When: Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm for a bottle of wine. Where: National Theater, Taipei City Since Hsiao appeared Tickets: NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing “melancholic” and was lingering in the alcohol section, she obviously Photo courtesy of National Taiwan College of Performing Arts intended to drown her sorrows over male heartthrob model Leandro (李安卓), who got “snatched” out of her arms by model Liu Zhen (劉真). 點報告), challenged 10 performance artists rock number that looks at the popularity Hsiao’s agent insists that Leandro is “just a friend” and to come up with a Chinese character that of talent shows such as One Million Stars Hsiao has plenty of prospective beaus lined up at the door To be, or not to be the they think best symbolizes Taiwan. (超級星光大道). — she just “hasn’t made her decision” yet. As for the wine, “The idea came from online surveys Chou Shu-yi’s (周書毅) Yield (讓) Hsiao and her mother regularly enjoy a nightcap. And who end: that is the question that asked people to choose a particular opens next week’s five performances. doesn’t? The photos accompanying the Apple Daily article [Chinese] character to describe a country The choreographer combines mime are worthy of mention for the play-by-play captions that for that year,” Lin said. with modern dance to examine how the would make any stalker proud. “If disobedient, beat my kid to death,” Citing one of last year’s surveys, Lin meaning of the Chinese character has 8:43pm: The store manager shows Hsiao a bottle of (孩子不乖你打乎死) was, a decade or more said respondents chose “rise” (漲) for changed over time — from its Confucian wine. 8:45pm: Hsiao is pictured with her brother, and she’s ago when corporal punishment was an China, “fake” (偽) for Japan and “disorder” roots meaning facing the world with using a credit card to buy a bottle of red wine, which costs accepted part of school life in Taiwan, a (亂) for Taiwan. humility, to its contemporary usage (often NT$2,100. 8:52pm: She’s in the Fendi store. She’s been common parental aphorism. The production sees choreographers, used by the bodyguards of politicians In Fable To Be or Not To Be, 10 performers each chose looking at bags for what seems like an eternity. But in the How times have changed. The theater professionals, poets and or celebrities pushing through a media a Chinese character to symbolize Taiwanese society. end, she didn’t buy one. development of the country’s education multimedia artists coming together scrum) meaning, “get out of the way.” Photo courtesy of Dongjianti Theatrical Company German film director Wim Wenders was seen system forms the basis of Wei Jun-zhan’s under one roof for solo performances Lin chose “end” (末). wandering the streets of Taipei earlier this week, on a visit (魏雋展) play Punish (罰), one of 10 solo — lasting roughly 20 minutes each — to “As in the end of the world, or end of Performance notes: with young filmmaker Arvin Chen (陳駿霖) [see Highlight performances by local artists beginning convey their ideas about anything from the Earth,” he said. When I pointed out on Page 14]; The director of Paris, Texas and Buena Vista this weekend and lasting until Nov. 9, at entertainment to the economy. that this was a rather pessimistic word to What: Fable To Be or Not To Be Social Club is serving as executive producer for Chen’s Guling Street Theater. Each performance features works pick, he countered by referring back to the (漢字寓言:未來系青年觀點報告) upcoming film First Page Taipei (一頁台北). The Liberty “Today it’s more like, ‘touch my child by five of the artists. This weekends’ title of the performances. Where: Guling Street Theater Times reports that Wenders’ hosts took him to the Shida and you’ll get sued,’” said River Lin (林 performers include actress Chou Heng- “It’s the kind of thinking we hope (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City night market (師大夜市), where they frequently lost sight 人中), paraphrasing another of the play’s yin (周姮吟), whose work Struggle (掙) to change through these performances. (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號) of the auteur, only to find him photographing scenes that central conceits. investigates gender bias in Taiwan. Huang That’s why we called it Fable To Be or Not When: Today until Nov. 9 caught his eye: a hardware store; an NT$10 discount store; Lin, MOVE Theatre Group’s (動見体劇 Si-nong (黃思農) will play the erhu (二 To Be … because its not the end of the Tickets: NT$450, available through NTCH and elderly shopkeepers. 團) producer and the brains behind Fable 胡), a traditional Chinese fiddle, in her world and it doesn’t have to be,” he said. ticketing A night market is an unlikely place to spot Japanese To Be or Not To Be (漢字寓言:未來系青年觀 performance Forget (忘), a psychedelic  — Noah Buchan On the Net: www.wretch.cc/blog/dongjianti singer Ayumi Hamasaki, who performs tomorrow and Sunday at Taipei Arena. But if the demanding pop diva makes any public appearances, her assistants will have to be ready for anything — and that could mean having a [ EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT ] toilet brush at hand. A China Times article earlier this month relayed this past tale: on an outdoor photo shoot, Hamasaki her granddaughter to work in a 方) features emerging young violinist (B2TF, 回到未來) hosts a Halloween 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei told a male assistant she had to go to the bathroom. His factory that makes matches. The girl Wu Meng-ping (吳孟平) performing costume party featuring DJs Yggiwt, City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For immediate response was to find the nearest public toilet, Theater befriends a little boy and together a program that includes Stravinsky’s Pomby and Keith. Tomorrow more information, call (02) 2362-5494 scrub it clean, and make sure the coast was clear so the Trifles (瑣事) is a one-act play by they discover that the matches are Three Pieces From “The Firebird,” night one-man electro-rocker Sonic or visit www.witchhouse.org pop princess could have the facilities to herself. Susan Glaspell, later turned into alive. One night, a disaster threatens Divertiment and Prokofiev’sFive Deadhorse takes to the stage. Performances start at 9:30pm.  — compiled by David Chen a short story called A Jury of Her the lives of both children and their Melodies, Op.35 bis, Sonata No.1, Op.8. B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師 Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist Peers. The work is being revised by match friends. Wu will be accompanied on piano by 大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or bookstore and large collection of Point Theater Workshop (戲點子工 Taipei Cultural Center, Wenshan Hsu kui-fang (許溎芳). visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for board games open 11am to midnight Oct. 17 to Oct. 23 作坊) and tells the story of how two Branch (社教館文山分館), B2, 32 Today at 7:30pm more information Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am Top Five Mandarin AlbumS characters use their female intuition Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街 National Recital Hall, Taipei City Bands play tonight from 9:00pm to to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays Mayday (五月天) and Poetry of the Day After and understanding of women’s 32號B2) Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500, 11:00pm; the DJs start at midnight. Entrance fee for music shows is 1 ( 後青春期的詩) with 42.37 percent of sales psychology to solve a mystery. Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm available through NTCH ticketing Show starts at 9:30pm tomorrow night NT$300, includes one drink Crown Theater (皇冠劇場), 50, Ln Tickets are NT$200, available through Entrance is NT$300 for the bands; Jay Chou (周杰倫) and Capricorn — Deluxe 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北 NTCH ticketing 2008 Ju Percussion Group NT$200 for the B2TF Halloween party. Tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留 2 Package (魔杰座) with 27% 市敦化北路120巷50號) Children’s Concert (2008朱宗 Admission tomorrow is NT$300 言) it’s funk, Latin and acid jazz from Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Taiwan’s expulsion from the UN in 慶打擊樂團兒童音樂會 — 擊幻遊樂 the TFP Trio. Tomorrow evening Shin (信) and Planet Music (集樂星球) with 5% tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm 1971 serves as the background for 園) is a family concert with a program It’s a busy weekend at the The Wall Taiwan’s beloved indie rockers 1976 3 Tickets are NT$450, available through Ping-Fong Acting Troupe’s (屏風表 designed to appeal to audiences of (這牆). The Halloween Metal Massacre make an appearance. The group, JJ Lin (林俊傑) and Sixology (JJ 陸) with 4.03% NTCH ticketing 演班) latest work Stand by Me (六 all ages. takes place tonight with post-punk who cultivated a die-hard fan base in 4 義幫). Written and directed by Hugh Sunday at 2:30pm rockers Blood Orange and metal Taiwan for its Brit-pop sound, has just Jam Hsiao (蕭敬騰) and Jam Hsiao (蕭敬騰) with 2.48% Two love stories intersect in Off Lee (李國修), the story follows six Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 bands Beyond Cure, Revilement released a new CD entitled Asteroid 5 Performance Workshop’s (外表坊時驗 youths who use an air raid shelter as Yenping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平 and Chthonic (閃靈). Tomorrow the (這個星球). Album chart compiled from G-Music (www.g-music.com.tw), based on retail sales 團) latest work We’ll Return Home a meeting place to discuss their roles 南路98號) venue hosts the final night of the B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, This Morning to the End of the in history. Tickets are NT$300 to NT$900, Taiwan Band Festival, which is free to Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷 World (今天早上我們回家‧直到世 Tainan Municipal Cultural Center available through NTCH ticketing the public and features performances 2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電 界盡頭). (台南市立文化中心), 332, Chunghua E from indie-pop outfit The Shine 大樓). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www. Highlight Huashan Culture Park (華山創意文化 Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路 and Shine and Shine and Shine riverside.com.tw for more information “We touch upon the whole 園區), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台 三段332號) (閃閃閃閃), Hakka folk rockers The Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and at erection, and not just the Bush,” 北市八德路一段1號) Tomorrow at 7:30pm Contemporary Hohak Band (好客樂隊), alt-rockers 9pm tomorrow reads the promotional flyer for Today, tomorrow, Tuesday, Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, Tonight VU Live House puts on a Tizzy Bac, and protest folk group NT$400 tonight and tomorrow Kurt Penney’s show at the Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm; available through NTCH ticketing Jungle Halloween with Pan Africana Black Hand Nakasi (黑手那卡西工 Comedy Club in Taipei tomorrow tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm a percussion group composed of 人樂隊). On Sunday it’s electro rock Expat singer-songwriter David Foster night. The Canadian expat, who Matt Bronsil performs tomorrow night Tickets are NT$500, available through African and Caribbean expats. Death group Plus Minus from the US and friends appear tonight at Sappho has performed as a stand-up at the Comedy Club with headliner NTCH ticketing metal fills the venue tomorrow night and Japanese bands Bloodthirsty de Base. Appearing tomorrow night comic in Taiwan for more than Classical music with of Poland, and , and . is , a duo that combines Kurt Penney. Photo courtesy of Matt Bronsil Behemoth Butchers nhhmbase moools Gross Fugue five years, hails from Bishop’s Falls, The Puppet and Its Double Theater Magical Fairy Tales — NSO Taiwan’s finest,Chthonic (閃靈). The B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei video, electric guitar, double bass and Newfoundland, where he says Torch Pratt and Matt Bronsil, (無獨有偶工作室劇團) revises The Halloween Party (NSO萬聖派對 — bands play earlier in the evening, with City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call electronic sampling. On Tuesday night “everyone knows everyone else who uses puppets in his act. Happy Prince (快樂王子), a puppet 魔幻傳奇) sees the National Symphony an after-party featuring DJ Ting. (02) 2930-0162 or go to www.the-wall. the Grace Jazz Trio plays a set, with ... and the phone digits only have Kurt Penney, Matt Bronsil and performance based on Oscar Wilde’s Orchestra celebrating Halloween with B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City com.tw for more information an open jam afterwards, while the four numbers.” If the flyer and friends at the Comedy Club, B1, 24 fairy tale of the same name. a mixed program of music ranging (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) 8pm tonight; 7pm tomorrow and Chris Stiles Jazz Trio takes to the his YouTube video (tw.youtube. Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街 Eslite Bookstore, Tainan City (台南誠 from much-loved movie themes to 2314-1868 for more information Sunday stage on Wednesday. On Thursday com/watch?v=qDPdMEBnNI8 or 24號B1). Visit english.comedy.com. 品書店), B2, 181, Changrong St Sec 1, favorite operatic overtures under the Shows begin at 10pm Admission is NT$600 tonight (NT$500 night Sappho welcomes for the first search “Bush and the Republican tw for more information. Space is Tainan City (台南市長榮路一段181號B2) baton of Carl Davis. NT$400 admission tonight includes in advance), free tomorrow and time the Sea Journey Jazz Combo Hillbillies”) are any indication, limited. For reservations, call (02) Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; two drinks; “VIP area” tickets for NT$1,200 on Sunday (NT$1,000 per (海洋知音爵士樂團). Penney’s material will cover US 2369-3730 or send an e-mail to tomorrow at 11am and 2:30pm tomorrow at 2:30pm tomorrow are NT$1,300 or two for person for groups of 10 or more people) B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei President George W. Bush, the [email protected] Tickets are NT$400, available through National Concert Hall, Taipei NT$2,500, and “rock area” tickets are City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Republican Party and the Iraq War. Tomorrow night at 10pm NTCH ticketing Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, NT$800 or two for NT$1,500 Jazz group Melodies for Memories Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit He will be joined by the Taichung NT$350 entrance includes one available through NTCH ticketing takes to the stage tonight at Witch www.sappho102.biz for more Improv Group and fellow comics drink; NT$80 beer specials On Fire (賣番仔火的小女孩) by Tonight Underworld (地下社會) House (女巫店), playing jazz interpre- information Barry Hanley, Brian Funshine, throughout the evening Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company Wu Meng-ping Violin Recital hosts indie bands Pen Sauce (筆 tations of contemporary pop tunes, Performances begin at 10:30pm on (台原偶戲團), tells the story of a — From Russia to the West (吳 醬) and Love Manana (愛的大未 while folk pop singer Europa Huang weekends; 10pm on weekdays greedy grandmother who forces 孟平小提琴巡迴演奏會 — 從俄國到西 來). Afterwards Back 2 the Future (黃建為) performs tomorrow night. No admission fee

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