14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010 • TAIPEI TIMES BY NOAH BUCHan DRAMA STOP American dream gone awry would make the perfect headline: Lady Against Again Troupe returns to the stage this weekend with COMPILED BY Ian BartHOLOmeW Gaga in an S&M tussle with Andy Warhol. American Dream Factory. PHOTO COURTESY OF AGAINST AGAIn TROUPE The story would go on to describe, in he most exciting news on the Itintimate detail, the dripping of candle wax on art installation for the 2008 Singapore Fringe music scene this week is that Warhol’s naked torso, a whip to keep him in line Festival. The installation comprises the set the bands Sodagreen (蘇打綠) and plenty of rope to ensure no escape. for the play and requires considerable visual Tand Tizzybac will be performing Though implausible (Warhol’s been dead for multi-tasking to keep up with. Three televisions at the Liverpool Sound City Music 23 years), the above scene kicks off American showing, for example, footage of Kurt Cobain Festival in the UK today and Dream Factory (美國夢工廠), the latest play of smashing his guitar and Warhol eating a tomorrow. Sodagreen keyboard social criticism by Against Again Troupe (再拒劇 hamburger, add to the overall theme but also player Zephyr Kung (龔鈺祺) 團), which begins tonight at Guling Street Avant- serve as a distraction to the human action. But was given a special leave of Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場). that’s probably the point. absence from military service “It’s the play’s only S&M scene,” said Though not a particularly original concept to travel to Liverpool for the Sammie Liu (劉柏珊), the production’s (it seems that every month sees a new play in event. For Sodagreen, this caps producer, an hour into a technical rehearsal on Taiwan attempting to tackle consumerism and yet another highly successful Wednesday night. materialism as a subject), the fantastical staging year that sees them entering the Pity, that, because Against Again Troupe of the production makes it an enjoyable ride. Golden Melody Award season does such a bang-up job of it — a cross between with two nominations in the Best the gothic atmosphere of Warhol’s Flesh for Band category (最佳樂團獎) for Frankenstein and the false sexuality of a Gaga 夏 狂熱 video (didn’t she used to be a blow-up doll?). albums Fever ( / ) and Spring Lala Shu rides a white horse. THEATER NOTES: — Sunshine (春.日光). Band PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES Directed by Huang Si-nung (黃思農), who manager Yan Rou-yi (閻柔怡) is co-wrote and workshopped the script with his WHAT: Against Again Troupe (再拒劇團), quoted in the United Daily News huge revival in the last year, and four actors, American Dream Factory is a American Dream Factory (美國夢工廠) as saying that this unusual double Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹), in her new mise-en-scene that examines the export of the nomination is an indication of the A-Mit (阿密特) persona, provide American dream. Here, however, democratic hard work of band members and a further level of interest to the principles don’t lead to prosperity — the ad WHEN: Tonight, tomorrow, Sunday, Tuesday, producer Lin Wei-tse (林暐哲). competition. nauseum mantra mouthed by a string of recent Wednesday, Thursday, May 28 and May 29 at The announcement of the Much excitement surrounds US presidents. 7:30pm and tomorrow, Sunday, May 29 and nominations for the 21st Golden the chances of Hsu Chia-ying Today’s American dream export, American May 30 at 2:30pm Melody Awards (第21屆金曲獎) (徐佳瑩) aka Lala Shu, whose Dream Factory suggests, is unfettered last Friday has sparked fevered career was launched when she capitalism, consumerism and materialism, a WHERE: Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre speculation. In the China Times, won the third season of CTV’s dehumanizing product that perpetuates vast (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City Sodagreen said that they tipped One Million Star (超級星光大道) inequalities and turns people into automatons. (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號) Eason Chan (陳奕迅) as the winner talent show. Her song I Ride a Along with Gaga and Warhol — the latter played in the Best Male Mandarin Singer White Horse (身騎白馬) has been by Jack Yao (姚淳耀) of Au Revoir Taipei (一頁 TICKETS: NT$450, available through NTCH category, but declined to be a runaway hit, and although her 台北) fame — the play uses Ronald McDonald, ticketing, online at www.artsticket.com.tw drawn for a tip on Best Mandarin professional career is little more Michael Jackson and Madonna as symbols of the or at the door Female Singer, saying the race than a year old (her debut album American dream gone wrong. in that category was too close was released in May last year), American Dream Factory began as an to call. she has joined the competition Sina.com laments the with five nominations. Apart uninspiring lineup among the from an expected nomination in BY Ian BartHOLOmeW male singers, with the all-too- the Best Newcomer category (最 OUTDOORS familiar faces of Eason Chan, 佳新人獎), she is also nominated David Tao (陶 ) and JJ Lam (林俊 in the prestigious categories of 傑). Khalil Fong (方大同) is tipped Best Song (最佳年度歌曲獎), Best as a possible winner, and Jam Album (最佳國語專輯獎) and Best Hot on the trail Hsiao (蕭敬騰) is in with a chance, Songwriter (最佳作曲人獎). though the Web site suggests he is The award ceremony will take aving organized five international adventure the opposite ... Taiwan has massive potential to more popular with audiences than place on June 26 with Little S, races in Taiwan that were filmed by National develop trail running.” with critics. A surprise omission otherwise known as Dee Hsu (徐熙 Geographic and ESPN Star Sports for Road running is already popular in Taiwan, is Crowd Lu (盧廣仲), who picked 娣), and Harlem Yu (庾澄慶) as MCs. Hregional TV coverage, Action Asia Events’ next Maddess said, but unfamiliarity with the up Best Newcomer last year. His The domestic life of Little S venture is the 2010 Salomon Suunto X Trail race country’s mountain trails keeps runners from latest album Seven Days (七天) continues to be in the news, but on June 5 in Maokong (貓空) in Taipei’s Wenshan taking greater advantage of them. only got the nod for Best Music the veteran TV personality is not District (文山區). Prize money of more than Taiwan has outstanding distance runners Video (最佳音樂錄影帶獎). an easy nut for the media to crack. US$15,000 is up for grabs. competing regionally, Maddess said. “Some are The weakness of the male With the dust finally settling on The Action Asia Events team has set up two now visiting Hong Kong to race, and placing very lineup is highlighted by the fact speculation of domestic violence, trail courses, one designed for novice runners and highly,” he added. that all but one nomination new reports emerged last week of hikers, the other for experienced trail runners. “Many serious road racers will train on in the Best Song and Best husband Mike Hsu (許雅鈞) dancing Both start and finish at Zhinan Temple 指南宮( ) in mountain trails for a whole variety of reasons,” Album categories are by female in an intimate fashion with a Maokong. The easier of the two is an 8km course, Maddess said, citing avoidance of urban air artists. The single exception is young woman while out clubbing. comprising a single-track trail and a short 500m pollution as a major factor. Northbound Train (北上列車) At a press conference to promote hiking section, which runners can finish in one to As of this week, Action Asia Events has by Super Band (縱貫線), a super the Golden Melody Awards, Little two hours, depending on their fitness level. already received 35 applications from Hong group alliance of veteran rockers S said that there’s nothing wrong For more experienced runners, the 16km Kong competitors, including Jeremy Ritcey, Lo Ta-yu (羅大佑), Emil Chou (周 with going out on the town. As for course features single-track trails with some one of the special administrative region’s top 華健), Jonathan Lee (李宗盛) and the photos, she dismissed them mountain sections — including 678m Ergeshan distance runners. Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽). as far too dark to see anything (二格山) and 530m Houshan (猴山) — that offer Maddess said he hopes the June 5 race There is a good deal more much. Her main interest was in stunning views. The winner is expected to finish will introduce more Taiwanese to the joys of interest in the Best Female the fashion theme for the award in less than 90 minutes, and the course’s average mountain trails, show runners in the region what Mandarin Singer category (最佳國 ceremony, which she described finishing time is two to three hours. the country has to offer and promote the growth 語女歌手獎), with indie talent Cheer as “sexy and revealing.” She will In a telephone interview, Michael Maddess, of annual races in Taiwan that appeal to runners Chen (陳綺貞) and Deserts Chang get through four costumes during race director and course designer for Action across Asia, and perhaps even draw competitors (張懸) going up against multiple the course of the evening. As to Asia Events, said that few people were aware of from the European circuit. Golden Melody winners Tanya whether Hsu would attend the Taiwan’s excellent environment for trail running. More details about the race can be found at Tsai (蔡健雅) and Karen Mok (莫 ceremony, Little S simply said: “People think that Hong Kong has a great www.actionasiaevents.com in both English and 文蔚).