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he story of The Butterfly very uncool style of popular music Lovers (梁山伯與祝英台) occupies — huangmei was the pop music of Performance notes: T much the same position in a previous generation, and nothing Chinese culture as Shakespeare’s Spring Sun says is more uncool than that. But Spring What: The Butterfly Lovers 梁山伯與祝英台( ) by Spring Sun Performing Arts Troupe Romeo and Juliet does in Western Sun seems happy enough to play with (春禾劇團) culture. It is the archetype of love this material without any very specific When: Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm stories, and so not surprisingly it has agenda of creating some highbrow Where: National Theater, Taipei City been reinterpreted in virtually every bon voyage species of artistic fusion, and the Tickets: NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing performance medium from traditional troupe’s light-hearted approach gives Beijing opera to Western classical the music additional appeal. music — The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin with butterflies Shan said that he hoped the Concerto (梁祝小提琴協奏曲) by He production would give those familiar Zhanhao (何占豪) and Chen Gang (陳鋼) with earlier huangmei productions or is one of the most famous examples with Love Eterne a chance to relive of Western classical music written to Ann Lang’s performance troupe is bowing out the experience of this popular classic, a Chinese theme. This weekend, the with a ‘huangmei’-style musical while providing a younger generation Spring Sun Performance Arts Troupe with a new style of Chinese musical (春禾劇團) is reviving the story in one revival of the most memorable Chinese love story that could be enjoyed on its own terms. of its most popular incarnations as The cast is made up largely of a farewell before bowing out of the By Ian Bartholomew veterans of television soap opera Staff Reporter theatrical scene. and variety shows, who manage the The Spring Sun Performing Arts legendary 1963 smash hit Love Eterne — while giving it a contemporary transitions between contemporary Troupe, which is led by actress Ann (梁山伯與祝英台) starring Betty Loh flavor and bringing in elements from humor and romantic tragedy with Lang (郎祖筠) and was associated Ti (樂蒂) and Ivy Ling (凌波), which television variety shows and other considerable confidence. In addition with the Spring International Digital generated an frenzy for cinematic modern popular entertainments into the to Lang, who leads the cast as Liang, Multimedia Group (春暉國際數位多媒體), versions of huangmei opera in Taiwan humorous parts of the story. young Beijing opera performer made a big splash on the arts scene and is still readily available on DVD Huangmei opera is by far the Huang Yu-lin (黃宇琳) is impressive when it was first created in 2000. around Taipei. It tells the story of most easily accessible of the Chinese as Zhu — and also shows the kind After a period of enormous success Zhu Yingtai (祝英台), a beautiful and operatic forms, both musically and in of elegance and poise that only a in straddling traditional performance intelligent young woman from a its singing style, which is very close to rigorous classical opera training and electronic media, it had become wealthy family who prevails upon vernacular Mandarin and does away provides — and Tu Shih-mei (杜詩 quiescent in recent years as Lang her parents to send her to school with many of the vocal flourishes 梅), a veteran television comedienne, juggled numerous performance in Hangzhou; her friendship with a of Beijing opera. Love Eterne gave plays the role of Zhu’s maid with commitments. According to manager fellow student, the impoverished the huangmei opera version of The energy, charm and just a hint of the Woody He (何曜先), the troupe is now Liang Shanbo (梁山伯), which gradually Butterfly Lovers the kind of cultural salacious. The presence of a live preparing to disband due to financial develops into love (Zhu had entered immortality that is utterly removed orchestra and choir give the musical pressures, and this large-scale musical the school dressed as a man); the from questions of quality or taste — in passages wonderful oomph and create of a much-loved tale is both the absolute opposition of Zhu’s parents this respect it is rather like The Sound an appealing contrast with the rather troupe’s swan song and a celebration to a match; the death of Liang in the of Music, the songs and story of which improvisational nature of the dialogue of all it has tried to achieve. anguish of love; and Zhu’s death and are know by people who claim never and stage business. The Butterfly Lovers is widely the transformation of the couple into to have seen the film. The nostalgic tone and hummable regarded as one of the four great butterflies. It is a tragedy but also has For all the contemporary additions, tunes are an especially appealing way Chinese love stories, along with The many comic elements, such as the the mood of the production is for Spring Sun to say goodbye. Tale of the White Snake (白蛇傳), The gradual discovery by Liang that his nostalgic for what has become a Cowherd and the Weaver Maid (牛郎 best friend is a woman, and also in the 織女) and Meng Jiang Nu Cries Down interaction of Zhu’s maid Yingxin and the Great Wall (孟姜女哭長城). Liang’s servant Sijiu. The version being presented by The show’s director, Shan Cheng-chu Spring Sun is based on the huangmei (單承矩), said the current production opera (黃梅調) version that was aims to revive the memory of the film immortalized in the — it contains all the music and Shaw Brothers’ now songs from that production

 Photos courtesy of Spring Sun Performing Arts Troupe

[ CHOREOGRAPHY ] Pilgrims’ glide to climate change and financial turmoil

Liou Shaw-lu, Taipei Dance Circle’s cofounder, believes modern dance and a liberal application of baby oil hold the key to many of the today’s problems

By Diane Baker Work on Pilgrims’ Dream began back Staff reporter in January. Liou and the others spent four he Taipei Dance Circle (光環舞集) months improvising before a video camera. Tcofounder and choreographer Liou He ended up with 20 90-minute DVDs to Shaw-lu (劉紹爐) is as concerned as everyone review, from which he picked the best Performance notes: else about and natural disasters. He thinks elements and then worked on creating the the answer is for people to look inward, try structure to connect them. WHAT: Pilgrims’ Dream by T�ai��p�ei����� Danc��e� C�ir��c�le�� to calm their spirit and go on a pilgrimage to During a dress rehearsal in the troupe’s WHERE and WHEN: Tonight at 7:30p�����m�, T� ai��n�a��n heal their souls. He also thinks modern dance Sanchong basement studio last Friday, the County Cultural Center (台南縣立文化中心), 23, has the answers — helped along with liberal four men, clad only in flesh-colored thongs, Zhongzheng Rd, Hsining City, Tainan County applications of baby oil. a red dot on their foreheads and palms and (台南縣新營市中正路23號); Oct. 29 to Oct. 31 at Fascinated by frictionless motion, for soles stained red, moved through a series 7:30pm, the National Taiwan Arts Education more than two decades Liou has created of solos, duets and ensemble vignettes that Center (國立臺灣藝術教育館), 47 Nanhai Rd, Taipei works that require his dancers to coat was fascinating to watch, though sometimes City (台北市南海路47號); Nov. 15 at 7:30pm, Chiayi 嘉義縣表演藝術中心 themselves with baby oil and move about bizarre. How can you describe the sight of  photo courtesy of Lee Ming-hsun Performing Arts Center ( ), 265, on a special plastic carpet. They spin, slide four men sliding around on their backs with Jianguo Rd Sec 2, Minhsiung Township, Chiayi and glide almost like ice skaters. Walking their knees clenched to their chests? County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號); Nov. 22 at upright, however, is more problematic. The company began a seven-stop tour last 7:30pm, Ilan Municipal Auditorium (宜蘭演藝廳), Liou’s latest creation, Pilgrims’ Dream, Saturday in Miaoli that takes them to Tainan 482, Zhongshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路 is a 70-minute work about four pilgrims who County tonight before beginning a three- 二段482號); Nov. 29 at 7:30pm, Hsinchu Munici- set out on a dark night to cross a vast desert. night run at the National pal Auditorium (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17, Tungta The score mixes the sound of wind and Taiwan Arts Education Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號); waves with contemporary Indian music, the Center in Taipei City on Dec. 6 at 7:30pm, Changhua County Y�ua��n�li���n guttural chants of Buddhist monks and the Wednesday. Performance Hall (彰化縣員林演藝廳), 99, Ln 2, dancers’ own breathing. Chungcheng Rd, Yuanlin Township, Changhua “Most of the time we are very quiet, the County (員林鎮中正路2巷99號) music comes from inside,” Liou said. TICKETS: NT$300, NT$400 and NT$600 for For the first time in many years, there Taipei; NT$250, NT$350 and NT$450 for��� T�ai��n�a�n,� are no women dancers in the troupe. Liou Chiayi, Ilan and Hsinchu;�� NT�$2��00,�� N�T�$�300,��� said he didn’t set out to create an all-male NT$500 and NT$600 for��� C�ha��n�ghua���������������.����������� Available work, it was just that over the years his through www.artsticket.com.tw female dancers have returned home to work in Ilan and Chiayi, a sign that the market for modern dance is growing in Taiwan.