14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010 • TIMES BY diane Baker DANCE stop Taking the show on the road

PERFORMANCE notes: compiled BY Noah Buchan What: WCdance, Small Songs he great and good showed carnations and taking her out for WHEN: Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, off their warm and fuzzy dinner. side over the past week for He told the United Daily tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm 文山劇場 TMother’s Day by recounting pithy News that he was somewhat WHERE: Wenshan Theater ( ), 32 Jingwen tales from their youths, throwing of a prima donna in his youth. St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號) special dinners and bestowing He said that during a birthday ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES: June 2 at 7:30pm cash gifts and designer bags on party for his cousin, he ripped at National Taichung Library Chunghsing Concert their moms. to shreds paper plates used for Hall (台中市中興堂), 291-3 Cingwu Rd, Taichung City Radio station HitFM got the cake after he felt ignored by (台中市精武路291之3號) and June 12 at 2:30pm and the ball rolling when it invited the rest of the family — a display 7:30pm at Tsoying Boy’s High School dance theater celebrities to show off photos of that earned him a severe rebuke (高雄左營高中舞蹈班劇場), 55 Haikung Rd, Zuoying themselves with their mothers and from his grandmother. Thinking Dist, City (高雄市左營區海公路55號) reveal what presents they gave. back, Yen said, “It scared me so ADMISSION: NT$500 for the Taipei shows, NT$350 Selina Jen (任家萱) and Ella much that I haven’t dared to feel for Taichung and Kaohsiung, available through (陳嘉樺), both members of jealousy since.” the NTCH box office or www.artsticket.com.tw popular girl group S.H.E, said Singer Rainie (楊丞琳) still they would pass on thick red hasn’t found the love of her life, envelopes to their mothers, while but at least fans still adore her. At When Small Dances premiered in May last year at Hebe Tian (田馥甄), the band’s an autograph session and concert the Experimental Theater in Taipei, Lin and his crews third member, gave her mom a on Mother’s Day, admirers worked for several days to reconfigure the seating space pearl necklace. presented her with a cake in the in that theater so the audience surrounded the dancers Photo courtesy of WCdance The Times reported that shape of G-cup breasts, a comical on three sides, with a white, 20cm-high platform in the actor Mike He (賀軍翔), in what allusion to her barely B-cup buds, center. It will be interesting to see what he does with that could be interpreted as a some- according to NOWnews. She later ancer-choreographer Lin Wen-chung (林文中) and his because of the expense involved in traveling and because platform on this tour. what Oedipal gesture, says he car- had a small get together with her WCdance troupe are launching their second national the sets and props aren’t usually designed to be moved Small Dances, the Chinese title for which translates ries around a photo of his mother mother and sister. tour this weekend in Taipei with Small Dances (情歌), from one theater to another. Lin has gotten around the more aptly as “love songs,” is a light romantic look at because “she is such a beauty.” Three members of boy band DLin’s second creation for his two-year old troupe. problems by creating works that are portable. With relationships, set to an intriguing mix of songs by the More to the point, he said, the Fahrenheit (飛輪海) said they feted Lin is trying something that few of the smaller dance Small, the staging centered on a Plexiglas cube. When Mexican American singer Lhasa de Sela, the song P.S. photo serves as a reminder of his their mothers early because they companies in do — build up a repertoire so that the piece premiered at the Crown Theater, those in the I Love You from the film of the same name, Love You youthful days when he ran away had to perform at Fulong (福隆) his productions are not just seen for a few performances front row on the floor were just about 2m away from the to Death from Cape No. 7 (海角七號), a nanguan (南管) from home, an event that caused beach over the weekend, where in Taipei and then disappear into the ether, lost to dance cube. When the company took the piece on the road last piece, excerpts from Handel and Mozart and Song to the his mother considerable pain. 1,000 Japanese and Korean fans fans except for a few YouTube clips. So far the plan is to year, at Wenshan for example, the cube was centered Moon from the Czech opera Rusalka. He has since made up for this paid a hefty NT$50,000 each for present a new work each year in Taipei, and then take it in the middle of the stage, while the audience was much It was very different from Lin’s earlier, edgier work, indiscretion with an apartment a four-day, three-night chance to on tour around the country six months to a year later. further away. filled with terrific little pas de deux and group sets. and parties thrown in his hobnob with the ambassadors for He tried it with his inaugural piece Small (小) last fall This shift didn’t change the way the company My only complaint was that Lin created most of the mother’s honor. Tourism Taiwan. and it appears to have paid off. performed the work, or the impact of the piece, it simply choreography for his five dancers and we didn’t see Meanwhile, actor Mark Chao and Most smaller companies can’t afford to do this both provided a different perspective from which to view it. enough of him. (趙又廷) whipped up a feast for reported that (汪東城) his mother after she told him treated his mother to a trip to the that eating out was too pricey, World Expo while Aaron BY taylor BRIERE according to reports in China Yan (炎亞綸) said he repaired sour MUSIC Times and our sister paper the relations with his mother with an . NT$30,000 handbag. Apparently Perhaps mom is concerned the family bond was fractured about the whopping tax bill her after Yan’s mother damaged a Back to the future son will have to pay this year. valuable feng shui trinket. The The Liberty Times revealed that bag sewed things up nicely. And may be dark, cramped, and the actor owes NT$5.2 million in on the stingier end of the celebrity populated by strange creatures, but PERFORMANCE notes: taxes on income of NT$13 million. spectrum, band member Calvin for those looking to support Taiwan’s In other Chao news, the newbie Chen (辰亦儒) said he made a long Itunderground music scene, Underworld (地 actor will announce his co-star for distance call to his mother. 下社會) is the place to be this weekend. What: Welcome to the Underworld the upcoming movie based on the The second installment of Welcome Part 2 (歡迎來到地下社會第二場) hit cop show Black and White (痞 to the Underworld, a music party thrown When: Sunday from 3:30pm 子英雄) at the Cannes Film Festival. by promotion group and music label Where: Underworld (地下社會), B1, Conspicuously absent will be his Back 2 The Future (B2TF, 回到未來), takes 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路 television co-star and rival Vic place this Sunday. Eight bands have been 45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103 Chou (周渝民), who declined to be invited to play at the event, which will be Admission: NT400, includes one part of the movie franchise citing professionally recorded. drink other obligations. “We want to put the focus on Taiwan’s On the Net: www.indievox.com/ The rivalry between the two bands,” says Wang Yuan Kang (王元康), back2thefuture and on as actors began when Chao took top aka Chosen (王秋生) from Back 2 The Back 2 The Future Go Chic performs Sunday along with seven other bands for the second installment of Welcome to the honors in the Best Actor category Future. “Actually there are a lot of good Underworld. The sessions will be recorded and released as an album by promotion group and music label at last year’s Taiwanese bands, and nobody does live Back 2 The Future. Photo Courtesy of Adward Tsai (金鐘獎), beating out Chou, who recordings of them.” was widely expected to win. The first installment of Welcome to their debut album I Am Confused. The electronica band that has garnered some Japan and Dandi Wind from Canada. Chou’s star has gradually the Underworld, which took place last band’s sound is reminiscent of Le Tigre, international attention with airtime on “We just want to be a cool label.” waned since then because of month, consisted of bands ranging from with vocalist Ariel Zheng (鄭思齊) gyrating BBC Radio 3, crust-punk and speed-metal says Wang. “Other labels and promoters alleged bitchy behavior. Taiwan’s old-school indie-rock icons all over the stage to trashy beats and band Bazooka (鐵拳火箭) and veteran always invite artists we don’t like, so we While Chao fixed dinner 1976, to up-and-coming indie-electronica screaming synthesizers. blues-rockers Celluloid (賽璐璐). Metal- decided to do it ourselves.” for his mother, singer- act Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車). Other notable acts include Lily et Coco heads Ashen round out the lineup with In addition to organizing live shows, songwriter Yen-j (嚴爵) Part 2 promises to be even more (哩扣), a refreshingly melodic post-rock some brutal grindcore. the group compiles music from its favorite traveled to Kaohsiung to act diverse, with no shortage of big names band, 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽), whose high- Back 2 the Future was formed in artists on CDs that it distributes for free. as a proxy for his mother from the Taiwanese independent music octane brand of indie rock is a crowd April of 2008 with the aim of bringing The upcoming live compilation culled (who was in the US) by scene, including dance-electro rockers Go favorite, and She Bang-a (死蚊子), which international acts to Taiwan and giving from the Welcome to the Underworld giving his grandmother 66 Chic, who are fresh off a performance at plays a quirky blend of instrumental exposure to local musicians. It has put on recordings will be the fourth such volume Austin’s internationally renowned South experimental rock. performances by artists including Carsick that can be downloaded for free at www. For , it’s the thought by Southwest festival and the release of They will be joined Varo, an indie- Cars from , Melt Banana from indievox.com/back2thefuture. that counts. Photo: Taipei times

RESTAURANT REVIEW BY Ho Yi T IDBI t s Hielo turn Taiwanese on to the Address: 124, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段124號) pleasures of Kiwi culinary Telephone: (02) 8772-6632 arts, the New Zealand Trade Open: Mondays to Fridays from 11:30am to 10:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays from ToDevelopment Centre has organized a 11am to 10:30pm food and beverage fair at each of the Average meal: NT$105 to NT$185 capital’s three branches of City’super Details: English and Chinese menu, credit cards accepted supermarkets and menu promotions at On the Net: www.hielo.com.tw hotels in Taipei and Taichung. The City’super promotional event, which showcases New Zealand prod- ucts including cherry-honey jam, honey Baaaaa. Photo courtesy of NZTDC you’ve been to Los of tart and sweet yogurt Each topping costs indication. Its yogurt blueberry syrup, pickled kiwifruit with Angeles in the past at its inviting location NT$15, except for dressing had a refreshing tequila, Maori beers, wines, Frenched until June 13 and includes a set five years, you’ll close to the intersection imported fruits such as zest with a dash of sea lamb rack, mussels and more, runs until meal for NT$1,380 plus 10 percent Ifprobably have come of Zhongxiao East (忠孝東) raspberry, blueberry salt and black pepper, but May 25. service charge. across Pinkberry and the and Dunhua South (敦化 and cherry that set you the fruit was past its best. During the promotion period, frozen yogurt wars. The 南) roads. back NT$40 each per Compared to other customers who purchase over NT$800 Evergreen Laurel Taichung Hotel (長榮桂 fro-yo phenomenon began From the outside, serving. Waffle bowls yogurt places, Hielo at one time in City’super or pick items 冠酒店台中), 6, Taichung Gang Rd Sec 2, when Pinkberry, now Hielo, which means ice are available for an is considerably more from the hotels’ promotional menus will Taichung City (台中市台中港路二段6號) a frozen dessert chain, in Spanish, doesn’t look additional NT$20. spacious, with friendly receive a lucky draw coupon to win a Tel: (04) 2313-9988 X2875 opened its first store like a purveyor of frozen Hielo has its own service and cutesy decor trip to New Zealand. On the Net: www.evergreen-hotels.com in Los Angeles in 2005 desserts. This probably yogurt creations with painted in white, pink Award-winning chef Jason Dell and rapidly built up a explains why I passed names like mochi matcha and baby blue hues. But has been in town giving cooking San Want Hotel (神旺大飯店), 2F, 172, following that nicknamed the storefront several and cookie crumble when it comes to the demonstrations and constructing the Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠 the store’s brand of sweet times before noticing — NT$105 for four frosty options, Hielo hotel menus. 孝東路四段172號2樓). Tel: (02) 2772-2121 frozen yogurt sprinkled it is a fro-yo store. But ounces, NT$145 for seven offers significantly fewer The Chavalier Teppanyaki and On the Net: www.sanwant.com with healthful toppings once you walk through ounces, and NT$185 for choices of flavors and Steakhouse at the Evergreen Laurel “crackberry.” the door, it all becomes 11 ounces — for those toppings than Yogurt Art Taichung Hotel menu includes New City’super The Mall branch (台北遠企店) Last year, a number clear when you see who don’t want to spend (www.yogurtart.com. Zealand salmon arancini with citrus B1/B2, 203, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2 Taipei City of bright-colored the huge pink sign on 10 minutes in front of tw) or YoFroyo (www. miso dressing and tea smoked beef (台北市敦化南路二段203號B1/B2) frozen yogurt places the wall that explains the toppings counter yofroyo.com). Since carpaccio as appetizers, crayfish bisque Tel: 0809–088–680 started springing up in how things work here. concocting their own. its opening last year, and Cloudy Bay seafood soup, risotto Taipei’s East District First choose a cup size The menu also YoFroyo has quickly of green shell mussels, garnished with City’super Fuxing branch (台北復興店) (東區), Gongguan (公 — four ounces, seven includes smoothies expanded to three macadamia nut and lemon crumble, and B3, 300, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City 館) and Shida (師 ounces, or 11 ounces (NT$125 for 14 ounces, locations in the city and is roasted New Zealand lamb cutlets with (台北市忠孝東路三段300號B3) 大) neighborhoods, — then select a flavor NT$155 for 20 ounces) a lot cheaper than Hielo tabbouleh, kofta, herbed goats cheese Tel: 0809–070–010 prompting food bloggers — tart plain, strawberry, that come in berry, and Yogurt Art. and sticky tamarind. to declare that the fro-yo and Uji matcha (which mango, kiwi and banana As the weather warms The set menu costs NT$1,580 plus 10 City’super Tianmu branch (台北天母店) wave has officially hit means green tea) — and and strawberry flavors as up, it should be interesting percent service charge and is available B1, 77, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 6, Taipei City Taiwan’s capital. cover your yogurt with well as selection of salads to see if more competitors until June 20. (台北市中山北路六段77號B1) Among the frosty toppings including fresh (NTS145) that should join the Taipei frozen The promotional menu at Papillion, Tel: 0809–080–966 dessert shops, Hielo is a fruit, cereal, almond, probably be avoided if yogurt wars this year and San Want Hotel, starts today and runs On the Net: www.citysuper.com.tw relatively latecomer that Oreo cookies, brownies the yogurt fruit salad how long the local fro-yo The frozen yogurt wars have come to Taipei. Photos: Ho Yi, Taipei Times hawks a similar melange or bite-sized mochi balls. I recently tried is any craze will last.