14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2009 • TAIPEI TIMES BY Andrew C.C. Huang DRAMA

Godot Theatre Company’s production stop of The 39 Steps, takes a light-hearted The fugitive approach to espionage.  Photo courtesy of NTCH

odot Theatre Company is back with another adaptation of a Western classic, The 39 Steps (步步 compiled BY Catherine Shu G驚笑), a comedic espionage thriller that made its Taiwan debut on Thursday at opular TV host Hu Gua (胡 enjoyed a reputation for being Taipei’s Metropolitan Hall. 瓜) and his ex-wife Hsiu Hsiu a buttoned-down daddy’s girl, Adapted from the novel of the (秀秀) have been on frosty but has “unfolded like a peach same title by John Buchan, which Pterms since their divorce nearly blossom” with a series of alleged inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s classic a decade ago, but the cold front affairs, our sister newspaper the film, the play is a theatrical spoof of may finally be dissipating. Liberty Times noted. Ann has the original story and has won two The former couple’s daughter, been romantically linked to F4 Tony Awards and a Laurence Olivier Barlow, the Chinese version features Hu Ying-chen (胡盈禎), recently member and actor Vanness Wu (吳 Award for Best Comedy. four actors who will portray a total celebrated her birthday at a 建豪) and H. Brothers Media (華誼 This Chinese-language version was of 48 characters. Chin Shih-chieh (金 restaurant in Taipei’s East 兄弟) head Wang Zhonglei (王中磊). translated and is directed by former 士傑), a veteran thespian and winner District (東區) with her mom Two months ago, Ann was Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Artistic at this year’s National Arts Awards, and egregious plastic surgeon spotted strolling to a hot pot Director and Bauhinia Star winner will play the lead character Mr Hanny, husband Lee Chin-liang (李進良). restaurant in heavy rain with a tall Daniel S. P. Yang (楊世彭). This month who unwittingly becomes entangled in Hu Gua and his current love Ting man who held an umbrella over two shows will run simultaneously in an espionage conspiracy. Screen siren Ro-an (丁柔安) were noticeably her the entire way. A reporter Performance notes: Shanghai and Taipei. The production and tabloid darling Tien Hsin (天心) absent. Gossip reporters asked saw the duo again last week while then embarks on a country-wide tour will portray three different women. if the two were “afraid to show they were out shopping. “On What: Godot Theatre Company, The 39 Steps (步步驚笑) here through the end of next month. Theater actors Pu Hsueh-liang (卜學 up” because of the long-standing closer inspection, it appears that When: Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at The show also marks the first time 亮) and Renzo Liu (劉亮佐) will each tension between Hu Gua and Hsiu Ann’s new boyfriend is Chinese 2:30pm, Monday to Dec. 19 at 7:30pm, Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 at 2:30pm a major Broadway production has tackle more than 20 roles. Hsiu. Hu Ying-chen explained that Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Where: Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City been licensed in Chinese while the The story of The 39 Steps unfolds she planned to have dinner with Hsieh Kuo-liang’s (謝國樑) former (台北市八德路三段25號) original continues to run in New York as Mr Hanny stumbles onto an enemy her father and Ting soon. Her aide, Chang Po-chin (張卜今),” Admission: NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing and London. spy ring and a mysterious woman mother added, “if they are willing wrote the Liberty Times. Upon or online at www.artsticket.com.tw “This is theatricalism and dies in his home. On the run, he finds to invite me along, then I will go” learning that Chang’s identity had On the Net: www.godot.org.tw minimalism at its best,” said Yang in himself knee-deep in a conspiracy — a statement Apple Daily called been uncovered, Ann wailed over Details: Additional performances in Chungli (Dec. 26 and 27), Taichung a phone interview last week. “There that threatens both his life and the no less than “astonishing.” the telephone to a reporter, “I’m (Jan. 9 and Jan. 10), Tainan (Jan. 16 and Jan. 17), Hsinchu (Jan. 23 and Jan. is laughter in every step,” and nation’s safety. Hu and Hsiu Hsiu divorced in going to cry now! 24) and Kaohsiung (Jan. 30 and Jan. 31). For a complete schedule, go to “plenty of tongue-in-cheek that will “This is an early version of the 2001. He and Ting have recently “We really are just friends. In blog.xuite.net/godot2009/the39steps?st=c&p=1&w=1933439 thrill the audience.” James Bond story,” said Yang. “It’s a been spotted dining with his the future, we might do business Following the original script production for audiences from 9 years daughter and her husband. But together,” she added through what written by British playwright Patrick old to 90 years old.” while the relationship between the Liberty Times wrote sounded Hu’s daughter and his girlfriend like tearful sniffling. appears cordial enough, gossip In addition to his political BY Ian Bartholomew rags report that tension surfaced activities, Hsieh is known for his OPERA this summer when Ying-chen six-year relationship with Breeze allegedly tried to engineer a Center (微風廣場) art director, reunion between her mother and Michelle Liao (廖曉喬), the sister father. At her birthday dinner, of the luxury mall’s owner, and To boldly go where no ‘gezai’ opera has gone before Ying-chen let slip that she wanted was recently photographed going to celebrate with her mother first home with a “hot chick” (辣妹) before meeting up with her dad to “watch a DVD.” But Chang’s ver the past couple of years, Taiwan of her professional life in Europe and techniques to build up her story of a and Ting. record now tops that of his former has produced a number of intriguing the US, said that this work was a gift to doomed romance that crosses national Hsiu Hsiu, however, said she’d boss, the Liberty Times remarked. collaborations that have brought Taiwan for all it has given her. and ideological lines. The cast also be happy to tag along to the second He is rumored to have had an Otraditional Chinese opera styles into With Mazu’s Bodyguards, Chen is crosses gender and relationship lines, dinner, adding that “it’s been 10 affair with children’s television collision with Italian opera, avant-garde making a return to the Taiwan stage for with Sun playing the lead male role years, what’s past is past.” When host and singer Momo Chu (朱安禹) theater, Western orchestral music, the first time in 20 years, though her and her daughter, Chen Shao-ting (陳昭 questioned by an Apple reporter, while still a player with the Super contemporary dance and every imaginable work has had a constant presence here, 婷), playing her lover. This rather facile Hu Gua responded “of course” Basketball League’s Yulon Dinos type of multimedia. Mazu’s Bodyguards reaching a new height of popularity with transgression, along with the jarring he’d be happy to see his ex-wife. (裕隆恐龍). (海神家族), which premieres today at the the success of The Personals (徵婚啟事, juxtaposition of sharply contrasting Whether the reunion will come National Theater, brings together theater 1998), a film staring Rene Liu 劉若英( ), musical styles, all seems to suggest that to fruition or if the two former director and writer Jade Chen (陳玉慧) based on a book by Chen. here is yet another story that will suffer spouses will just continue to play Hu Gua can with gezai opera (歌仔戲) diva Sun Tsui- Mazu’s Bodyguards is a hugely through a too determined insistence on a game of telephone via gossip choose his feng (孫翠鳳), founder of Ming Hwa Yuan ambitious work that aims to deconstruct stylistic innovation. reporters remains to be seen. friends ... Taiwanese Opera Company (明華園歌仔戲 gezai opera and build it again from the Given the number of boundaries While the focus this week was  Photo: Taipei Times 團), to create what is described as a New ground up as a medium for contemporary that Chen tries to straddle in Mazu’s on the thawing of the cold war Age gezai opera. theater. This is a distinctly unsettling Bodyguards, there is a clear effort to make between Hu Ying-chen’s parents, Mazu’s Bodyguards is written and experience, as the traditional Chinese this production strikingly modern, with Apple couldn’t help poking directed by Chen and based on her hugely orchestra has been replaced by a fusion all the attendant dangers of pushing limits fun at husband Lee, who is popular novel of the same name published of contemporary classical and electronic further than they have been pushed before. currently on an enforced in 2004. The novel won the Jury Prize at music, removing the musical punctuation three-month sabbatical after the inaugural Dream of the Red Chamber of drums and cymbals that are central to being found guilty of illegally Award (第一屆紅樓夢獎) for Chinese Chinese opera. Sun, whose Ming Hwa Yuan Mazu’s Bodyguards is based Jane Chen’s hugely Performance notes: inserting silicone breast literature in 2006 and picked up the prize Taiwanese Opera Company is a leading popular novel of the same name. Photo courtesy of NTCH implants into a patient. Lee, for Best Novel in the Taiwan Literature innovator in gezai opera, said that this new What: Mazu’s Bodyguards (海神家族) who is also rumored to be a Awards (台灣文學獎) in 2007. work presented unique challenges for the people are working on.” When: Today and tomorrow at serial philanderer, looked a bit Chen said that she had been artists. It also challenges the expectations Boldly experimental productions of 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm “high” at the party, the newspaper encouraged to adapt the book for the stage of audiences. traditional Chinese opera have had a Where: National Theater, Taipei City reported, with bright red, glazed- following the passionate response elicited Chen, who has never shied away from mixed reception in recent years, and ADMISSION: NT$500 to NT$2,000, over eyes. When someone asked by the work from readers around the throwing down the artistic gauntlet to violent tampering with the musical available through NTCH ticketing or him how often he “fries rice” world. Drawing on her own family history, audiences, said that she believed this structure of Chinese opera has produced online at www.artsticket.com.tw (炒飯), a euphemism for sex Chen looks back over the social and new dramatic work was an important some rather unhappy results. Language: In Hoklo (commonly (presumably just with his wife), he political upheavals experienced by Chinese step in bringing gezai opera into the Chen did not stop with the known as Taiwanese), Mandarin, replied giggling “twice a week!” people in modern times, as a result of modern world. “Traditional theater needs introduction of a new type of music for Far less open to publicity than which many of whom, like herself, are now to be modernized,” Chen said. “There this New Age gezai opera. She also uses Japanese and German with Chinese the Hu family is Ady Ann (安以 dispersed across the world. At a rehearsal are many obstacles to this process. This multimedia projections, contemporary subtitles 軒). The actress and singer once on Wednesday, Chen, who has spent much is just one step in a process that many dance and experimental theater

BY IAN BARTHOLOMEW BY David Chen RESTAURANTS TIDBITS Lumama (魯媽媽雲南擺夷料理) aster Hung’s Noodle Shop The beef portions are gener- a crossed-out cow wearing an BY DAVID CHEN (洪師傅麵食棧), a small ous enough, but there’s plenty American flag and reads, “Refuse Address: 210-2-1, Renhe Rd, Datong Village, Renai Township, Nantou County (南投 restaurant chain with three else to please the taste buds. The to eat cows’ internal organs, e waxes passionate about 7- 縣仁愛鄉大同村任和路210-2-1號) Telephone: (049) 280-3876 Open: 11am to 9pm Mlocations in Taipei and one in broth was a pitch-perfect balance ground beef and beef marrow Eleven lunchboxes, potstickers (kitchen closes at 8pm) Average meal: NT$400 per person Details: Chinese menu Keelung, boasts a handful of of tangy-sweet and savory and from the United States.” and Peking duck pizza from top accolades from past Taipei had a subtle garlic aftertaste. The For something on the healthier HCostco and calls KFC in Taiwan with pictures; credit cards not accepted International Beef Noodle “home-style” noodles, slightly side, try the beef noodles with red “moderately awesome.” Junk food festivals, and prices to match. thinner than the typical “knife- yeast powder and tomato soup (紅 connoisseurs will appreciate My lthough its official address but equally welcome was the The four prize-winning bowls run cut” noodles (刀削麵), tasted 麴蕃茄牛肉麵, NT$260), the winner Inner Fatty (myinnerfatty.blogspot. is one of those vague rural beef soup (牛肉扒呼湯, NT$350). between NT$180 and NT$260. freshly made and had a nice al of the creativity prize at last com), a blog written by Taiwanese addresses that can often Rich and gamy, it is made from The “five flower” brisket beef dente texture. year’s beef noodle festival. Red American college student Abe hellishly difficult to locate, offal and the beef is cooked noodles (五花牛腩牛肉麵) is worth Other prize-winning bowls yeast powder is among several “Nicholas.” He describes himself it is almost impossible to miss to the edge of disintegration. the NT$260. The dish, which include the “take charge” noodles ingredients used in traditional as a “former fat kid” who made it Lumama (魯媽媽雲南擺夷料理), The flavor of the soup can be Gin sa, a Yunnan version of spring rolls, won the top prize in the Taipei (獨當一麵, NT$180), the 2007 Chinese medicine, although there through high school on a diet of which sits just off the No. 14 Jia enhanced by a selection of tastes as good as it looks. International Beef Noodle’s clear champion in the beef noodle are no overpowering herbal Pop Tarts. Provincial Highway (省道台14甲 spices, and the beef itself eaten  Photo: Ian Bartholomew, Taipei Times broth (清燉) category in 2007, festival’s braised category, and flavors in this broth, which has a Clicking on the “Taipei” label 線) above the mountain resort of separately, flavored with a mint comes with two cuts of beef: the “three treasures” beef noodles hearty tomato flavor. reveals an amusing, if long-winded, Cingjing Farm (清境農場). dipping sauce. This beef soup angelica sinensis (當歸), a plant delicately thin brisket slices and (牛三寶麵, NT$230), which comes If only Master Hung’s would journal of Nicholas’ dining exploits In the crazily eclectic style is not for the carnivorously that is more commonly found short rib cuts with marbled fat. with a trio of beef chunks, tendon put the same effort into the during his stay in Taipei. of the area, Lumama, which challenged, for while the offal as a dried herbal medicine. The Every bite was juicy, tender and tripe. decor, which dampens the In an entry from October, he serves up some of the best is not physically present in the collation of steamed preserved and flavorful. Master Hung, whose full enjoyment of those prize-winning gawks at a Pizza Hut pizza that Yunnan/Shan food this side of soup, the flavor of organ meats meats (NT$200) is also made According to Master Hung’s name is Hung Chin-lung (洪金 (and pricey) noodles. Both the has hot dogs stuffed in the crust. the Thai border, is housed in a cannot be missed. locally — the restaurant makes Web site, the brisket is slow- 龍), says he uses USDA prime Jianguo North Road (建國北路) Of course he has to try it: “It kind of Swiss chalet. While the A popular Shan dish that much of these authentic flavors, stewed with onions, carrots, beef for the prize-winning and East Metro Mall (東區地下街) sounds disgusting right? Oh it is. restaurant boasts a lovely view of can be found at many local which are made possible by a white radish, sugar cane and bowls, but in a nod to the recent branches are just a step up from The hot dogs were cool, it saved the Central Mountain Range, it is restaurants is gin sa (錦灑, climate similar to the highlands papaya, while the short rib is anti-US beef fracas a small sign the hole-in-the-wall noodle joint me the trouble of having to get not set up as a scenic restaurant, NT$200), a mix of minced pork of Indochina where the Shan roasted medium rare. on the wall shows a picture of with budget-grade furniture and hot dogs in Taiwan, and I love and the focus is most definitely and herbs wrapped in raw locally originated. The restaurant is plain-Jane interiors. the Kewpie mayo, but I could do on the food with its bold flavors grown cabbage leaves. The situated at an altitude of more For those who don’t want to without eggs.” and liberal use of fragrant herbs leaves were crisp and sweet, than 2,000m above sea level. splurge, Master Hung’s also offers Another entry offers a and spices. the meat fragrant with chili and Service is brisk and the staff an extensive menu of noodle detailed comparison of 7-Eleven A must-try at Lumama’s is the an unfamiliar bundle of mixed is clearly experienced at handling dishes ranging from NT$70 microwaved fried chicken vs natural mung bean cake (天然豌 herbs. The whole ensemble packs the large crowds that flock to NT$140. Leek and cabbage the fried chicken lunchbox 豆粉, NT$100), a firm green jelly a flavorful punch, but it never to Lumama for a taste of its dumplings are NT$50 for a set (the lunchbox won because the served with cucumber, coriander, felt heavy or cloying. Dishes unique cuisine. The joint has no of 10. The Jianguo branch also chicken cutlet was “not soggy”). ground peanut and a thick sweet such as gin sa can be found on pretensions, and maintains a street offers fist-sized steamed buns He’s like a kid in a candy store at hot sauce. The restaurant’s many Thai, Burmese and Yunan food ambiance while presenting with either beef (黑胡椒牛肉包), the Overseas Dragon (四海遊龍) fast version of this often-bland starter restaurant menus around Taiwan, restaurant quality dishes. green onion and pork (真功夫蔥燒 food chain restaurant, polishing was extraordinarily vibrant, and but Lumama gives it a special 包) or cabbage and pork (高麗菜鮮 off 40 potstickers. while the topping was pungent, twist that makes the journey to Master Hung’s award-winning 肉包) for NT$30. Nicholas’ sentiment on Peking the natural flavor of the bean this Shan enclave in the Central Master Hung’s Noodle Shop (洪師傅麵食棧) “five flower” brisket noodles. Master Hung’s Jianguo branch duck pizza at Costco perhaps best jelly managed somehow to shine Mountain Range worthwhile.  Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times is located near Changchun Road sums up the spirit of his blog: “I through. It is the sort of dish that Lumama uses local produce Address: 72, Jianguo N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市建國北路二段72號) Telephone: (02) 2500-6850 (長春路), and the East Metro Mall don’t care if the crust tastes like you order again on the way out in an understated manner. High Open: 11am to midnight (Jianguo branch); see the restaurant’s Web site for hours for other locations branch is store No. 35 (東區地下街 cardboard, I will still eat it.” And to snack on later. altitude cabbage comes from Average meal: NT$110 to NT$260 Details: Credit cards not accepted 35店鋪), near Zhongxiao Dunhua we’ll still read about it. Somewhat more controversial local farms, as does the fresh On the Net: www.taiwannoodle.com.tw MRT Station (忠孝敦化捷運站).