Japan's a Stage

A R O U N D T O W N 發光的城市 15 TAIPEI TIMES • FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 All Japan’s a stage RESTAURANTS ickets for the 2009 World View further insight into the dangers (and Bread & Soup (Zhongxiao Branch) Series: Japan Only, which opens pleasures) of mixing dramatic traditions. Address: 23, Ln 240, Guangfu S Rd, Taipei City (台北市光復南路 T in October with Tadashi Suzuki’s Cyrano de Bergerac will play at the 240巷23號) Cyrano de Bergerac, went on sale National Theater from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11. Telephone: (02) 2772-0818 Wednesday. The World View Series Another big name likely to attract Open: 7am to 11pm is an annual event sponsored by the sellout crowds is Ryoichi Kurokawa. Average meal: NT$400 National CKS Cultural Center featuring For the World View Series, Kurokawa, Details: English menu; credit cards accepted the performance art of a single country. one of the world’s foremost multimedia It has proved enormously successful artists, will be collaborating with local Bread & Soup, which in bringing high-profile artists to composer Wang Sue-ya (王思雅) and opened last year in Taiwan, while retaining a place for percussionist and Ju Percussion Group Tianmu (天母) at 158, This year’s World View Series features performance non-mainstream artists as well, giving (朱宗慶打擊樂團) director Wu Shih-san (吳 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 6, art from Japan. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NTCH Taiwan’s audiences a peak at the whole 思珊) to produce Celeritas (Oct. 22 to (台北中山北路六段158號), spectrum of foreign performance art. Oct. 25). rhythms (Oct. 25). has recently opened a The series opens with some heavy Those with an interest in For the more traditional-minded, second branch in an guns: Suzuki is one of the powerhouses contemporary dance may want to see there will be two concerts under the equally high-profile of Japanese theater and the developer Hiroaki Umeda. A rising star in the umbrella of Musical Journey of Japan: location, targeting of the notoriously demanding Suzuki Japanese dance scene, Umeda will one spans the history of Japanese music Taipei yuppies with method of acting. Drawing on traditional present his mix of choreography and from the Edo period to the recent past what is billed as some Japanese Noh and Kabuki theater, he multimedia effects titled While Going to while the other takes a geographic of the most authentic has sought to extend their influence into a Condition and Accumulated Layout theme, showcasing music from various European bread the 20th and 21st centuries. The level (Oct. 9 to Oct. 11)��, in which ��the poetic regions. (Nov. 5 and Nov. 6). available in the city. At least the bread’s good. of recognition he has achieved for his body meets the technological stage.” A rare opportunity to see authentic Well, it should be PHOTO: IAN BARTHOLOMEW, TAIPEi TiMES integration of traditional and modern Dance will also be showcased by Noism, Kabuki can be found in the Kabuki authentic, since the bread performance art is one that many a group of young dancers that are Lecture Demonstration (Oct. 10 and is actually made in Belgium, though baked in Taiwan. Following Taiwanese artists aspire to. credited with pushing the remarkably Oct. 11), in which short performances in Paul’s (see Taipei Times review of Nov. 7, 2008) footsteps, In presenting his adaptation of flexible boundaries of modern dance will be followed by explanations of Bread & Soup imports its bread and pastry dough, which is Edmond Rostand’s classic, Cyrano de (Oct. 16 to Oct. 18). the traditions and skills that these produced in centralized kitchens and then�� shipped to outlets Bergerac, a piece that was immortalized In music, the Yoshida Brothers selections illustrate. around the world, so you can be sure you’re getting the real thing. in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s will perform Tsugaru Shamisen, a Details and ticketing information can Bread & Soup really does have some excellent bread, but acclaimed 1983 production starring Derek production that integrates traditional be found at www.artsticket.com.tw. with regards to almost everything else, it has yet to find its feet. Jacobi in the title role, Suzuki offers shamisen music with rock ’n’ roll — IAN BARTHOLOMEW The sandwich menu certainly looked very appealing, and I opted for one of the most expensive items, the Italian Parma ham sandwich (NT$240). I chose the combo option (an extra South Africa, who plays tech house, �DJs next big thing, dubstep, in the traditional NT$140), which included a drink and bowl of soup. are now more challenged … it comes down way, on vinyl. To speak kindly, the sandwich had a very subtle flavor to being a good entertainer.” If you wanna be starting something for — that of a single very thinly sliced piece of Parma ham. The As for tomorrow, Hive is �a very the weekend and hear some fresh tunes, salad, which sported a mere handful of butter and crinkle-leaf intimate venue, so I’ll try to tone it down as ease on down the road to Hive Lounge lettuce (at least it wasn’t romaine or iceberg) and crudely Don’t stop ’til you get enough in Tainan I usually go crazy,” said Naked, who played tomorrow. chopped chunks of cheddar, didn’t even make a pretense at tomorrow as Taiwanese promoter and DJ at the 48Renu festival in Pingtung County Zombie Dance Zombie is at Hive presentation. Toothpicks with paper flags holding the sandwich Freaky Squeaker is putting on a thriller over the Spring break holiday. �I’ll play Lounge, 3, Ln 21, Zhongzheng Rd, Tainan together topped off what was clearly an inadequate sense of called Zombie Dance Zombie at Hive some house and electro — and generally City (台南市中正路21巷3號), tomorrow from style. The same miserliness and lack of flair characterized the Lounge, and on a slow weekend this is the just take it from the crowd … but expect 10pm until 3am. Admission is NT$350 with cheddar and mozzarella panini. best of the bunch come tomorrow night. some bangers though.” two drinks. Then there was the soup. I had opted for tomato soup, On the decks with Freaky Squeaker Naked plays CDs, Pimpin is on Serato, Up in Taipei, Doi Moi, aka Toby Garrod, which, although made with real tomatoes, was a tad sour and are three other DJs, Naked, Steppa and so it makes sense that Steppa, aka Kevin has put together a Ween night featuring had the texture of a warm gazpacho. My companion had gone Scottie Pimpin, all of whom are the Wu (吳炫輝), plays drum ’n’ bass and the only the music of arguably the most for what was described as Italian borscht, but turned out to monkey business right now. They’ll drop misunderstood, yet finest electro-rock be vegetable soup with a ham stock — reasonable, but not remixed Michael Jackson tracks to help band of our time. Expect enough Ween to exactly borscht. punters remember the time when he ruled make you cry. My latte was very average, and my companion’s lemon the pop firmament. �The brilliance of their early work stems juice refreshing, though when asked if it was made from Scottie Pimpin, aka Scott L. Levy from from their gutsy, innovative and incredibly freshly squeezed fruit, the waitress admitted that it was made Canada, has been spinning since 1992 and catchy songs, combined with their Above: Nothing says sophistication quite like Mystique of reconstituted ingredients. plays predominantly underground hip-hop, unsarcastic humor (a rare commodity) and de Michael Jackson eau de toilette. But indeed, the bread for both the sandwich and the panini mixed in with a bit of drum ’n’ bass and the beauty of their brotherly interactions,” PHOTO: STEVE PRICE, TAIPEi TiMES lived up to its reputation. The strawberry cheesecake (NT$85) funky breaks. said Garrod of Ween. �Their later work Left: K��urt B��uttress, aka D��J Naked. PHOTO COURTESY OF KURT BUTRESS was also good, very European (and clearly not made locally), Since moving to Taiwan in 2002, takes those sentiments, and … refines light and a good deal cheaper than a similar and slightly richer Pimpin, 36, has been playing at Dreams them into increasingly beautiful works of cover. Tel: (02) 2777-2218. offering at Maison Kayser in the Breeze Center. in Kaohsiung, Peach in Taichung and art … It’s the combination of their human And now, what you’ve all been waiting In addition to coffee, tea and soft drinks, Bread & Soup Fusion in Tainan. nature, their incredible skills and a knack for, it’s the Vinyl Word Challenge. Hidden serves a range of Belgium beers and wines that can be ordered The Tainan resident isn’t down with the for knowing what the listener likes.” in plain sight in this article are the titles with its sandwiches, though wait staff were clearly unversed in scene, though; �in a word it is lame,” he DJs and expat band Killing Zoe will play of some of Michael Jackson’s songs. the finer points of its fare. says, with the �same old shit everywhere Ween covers after Doi Moi’s stint on the How many can you spot? Send an e-mail The ground floor seating area is quite attractive, with you go.” ukulele. Send an e-mail to weenintaiwan@ with your answer and contact details to plenty of natural light, though the basement area could �I had a weekly night at LaSight in yahoo.com with song requests or to [email protected] and the winner have belonged to a Dante or Ikari coffeeshop. Service was Tainan for a few months,” Pimpin said, confirm attendance.

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