14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010 • TIMES BY Diane Baker DANCE

stop

horeographer Members of Jade & Artists Dance Troupe Jade Hua’s (華碧 rehearse the company’s latest production, 玉) productions last An Untold Secret, which premieres this Cyear — Vipashayana weekend at the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei. compiled BY Ho Yi (觀。自在) and Crystal Photo courtesy of Richard Wang Tun-Hwang (水晶瓶中 nless you’ve been living 的敦煌) — focused respectively backdrops. Another test came underneath a rock inside on the search for meaning in from the need for the dancers to a cave on a lonely desert modern society and the path act as well as dance. Uisland in the middle of the ocean, to self-discovery with a nod to Lin, as well as being the you’ve probably heard of Lin Buddhist cave murals in China’s music producer, plays the central Yu-chun (林育群). Hailed by the Gansu Province. Those shows character. He had to walk a world’s media as the next Susan encapsulated Hua’s ambition to tightrope in creating a score that Boyle, the portly, bow tie-wear- combine modern and traditional balances classical music with pop ing 24-year-old with a bowl hair- Chinese dance techniques, while songs while working on his own cut became a YouTube sensation training the members of her 13- performance, since he will be overnight after he performed a year-old company, Jade & Artists playing the piano and singing. The Whitney Houston-like rendition Dance Troupe (肢體音符舞團) to process was made easier, however, of I Will Always Love You on dance “from the inside out.” by the fact that he is an old friend One Million Star (超級星光大道) The company’s latest of Hua’s and had worked with the earlier this month. production, An Untold Secret (藏 company on Crystal Tun-Hwang. Since then “Little Fatty” (小 心), which premieres tonight at An Untold Secret is divided 胖), as he calls himself, has been Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall, once again into three parts — Paradise Lost, covered by CNN, the BBC, the has the company shining a spotlight Night and Day and Hidden Heart Daily Mail, the USA Today, the on the internal life of humans, only — plus a prelude. New York Times and Agence this time it is the search for, and Paradise Lost is about young France-Presse, just to name a few. the meaning of, love. love, while Night and Day Even though Lin was eliminated Working with choreographer examines love’s fickle nature, and from the competition on last Hsu Wei-ling (許瑋玲), stage Hidden Heart expands the search week’s show, he has been courted designer Choo Yean Wong (黃祖 for love to a wider scale — the by several record companies and 延) and composer and singer Kevin search for true happiness. will reportedly release his first Lin (林隆璇), Hua has crafted a Labors of love In her director’s notes, Hua album by the end of this year. production that refined both her said An Untold Secret is about Lin’s newfound fame may have dancers and her production team. seeing all sides of love — the He will always love you. Photo: Taipei times Performance notes: already gone to his head. According Some of the challenges good, the bad and the ugly — as to Liberty Times (the Taipei she faced came from trying to WHAT: Jade & Artists Dance Troupe, An Untold Secret well as life and death. Times’ sister newspaper), his agent Li Kuang-chih (李光智), alleged create the right atmosphere for WHEN: Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm As the secrets hidden inside cancelled a press interview a few drug dealer Liu Chang-chih (劉昌 a production about love (luckily WHERE: Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號) each of the characters — or hours before the scheduled time 志) and Liu’s girlfriend Wu Chih- Zhongshan Hall has a balcony, as ADMISSION: Tickets are NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw ourselves — are disclosed, Hua last Friday only to call reporters hsiang (吳芝香). balcony scenes figure so often in ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE: June 18 at 7:30pm at the Experimental Theater of said, they remind us that we back to take photographs of Lin at The erstwhile funnyman was love stories) and the search for Performance Arts Center (嘉義縣表演藝術中心實驗劇場), 265, Jianguo Rd Sec 2, Minsyong Township, should feel grateful for what the musical instrument shop where collared for using amphetamines images to project onto the two Chiayi County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號) we’ve experienced. he works. This behavior irked the in 2007 and 2009 and took papers’ gossip journos, who say Lin indefinite leave from local is a neophyte with the attitude of showbiz after his second arrest. BY BRADLEY WINTERTON an A-lister. Da Bing reportedly denied MUSIC It’s time again for another using the heroin found at his round of Celebrity Drug Bust. place, but in front of a media Disgraced entertainer Da Bing (大 scrum late Monday night he burst 炳) has been arrested on drug- into tears and said, “Please don’t Smooth as silk related charges for the third time, have faith in me anymore. I don’t this time for alleged possession deserve this attention.” ometimes it seems that Yo-yo Ma (馬 of amphetamines and heroin at Why are the police always 友友) has all the virtues. He’s an out- PERFORMANCE notes: his apartment in Sijhih, Taipei busting celebs like Da Bing and standingly fine classical instrumen- County, on Monday. Local papers Suzanne Hsiao (蕭淑慎) when there Stalist yet routinely plays with musicians What: Silk Road Ensemble with said when police broke into are plenty of other people using from other traditions. He supports many Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友．絲路之旅在台灣) the room, the cross-dressing drugs at any given moment all charities, has appeared on innumerable Where: National Concert Hall, Taipei performer, whose real name is Yu over Taipei? One theory is that TV shows and has a happy family life. He City and ’s Chih-teh Hall (高 Bing-hsian (余炳賢), knelt on the celebrity caners are too dumb to projects a relaxed, sunny and benevolent 雄市文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, floor and cried, “I’m screwed!” take measures to avoid getting personality. Lastly, he promotes cross- Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號) Also at the scene, according to caught. The other is that they are cultural harmony across Central Asia via When: Thursday (Taipei) and April 25 the reports, were his boyfriend easy targets and a guaranteed his Silk Road Project, thereby, in a time (Kaoshiung) at 7:30pm source of good publicity for law of much religion-based dissention, uniting Admission: Tickets are NT$800 (for enforcement. mainly Muslim peoples with Christians, students) and NT$1,800 to NT$6,000, Police say they were chasing Confucians, Buddhists and non-believers. available through Era ticketing, online Liu and Wu, not Da Bing. And he really is willing to try anything. at www.ticket.com.tw or by calling Also crying on TV this week He’ll play in an avant-garde style, (02) 2341-9898 was basketball player Chen Jien- welcome James Taylor onto his stage On the NET: www.silkroadproject.org chow (陳建州), better known as and laugh at his jokes, and jam with Blackie (黑人), accused by Next folk instrumentalists from just about Magazine of pocketing money anywhere on the planet, while remaining Taipei concert, including players of the Yo-yo Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble return to Taiwan for concerts in Taipei and Kaohsiung. PhotO: bloomberg from his Love Life charity drive. rooted in the great cello classics of Bach, shakuhachi, pipa (琵琶), sheng (笙) and The report claimed that the charity Dvorak and Shostakovich. kamancheh. The program concludes will be even more performers, with the In the face of ongoing political was hawking T-shirts for NT$580, Next week he’s in Taiwan again with a performance of US composer original group joined by adepts of the problems in Central Asia, Yo-Yo Ma’s of which only NT$100 per shirt with his Silk Road Ensemble, this time Osvaldo Golijov’s Air to Air (featured on tabla, ney and ruan (阮), plus special project testifies to the natural inclina- went to terminally ill children with for three concerts starting in Taipei on the Ensemble’s 2009 CD Off the Map on guest artist Vesal Arbzadeh on the Iranian tion of musicians everywhere to perform cancer and the rest to Blackie. Thursday. It’s part of an Asian tour that Harmonia Mundi’s World Village label). setar. How typical of Ma to go out of his alongside one another, and happily make Blackie broke down in front will have already seen them in Seoul and Given that Golijov has Eastern European way to make sure that Iran (as Persia music together. He’s giving more concerts of media on Wednesday and Macau, and will take them on to Bangkok Jewish ancestry, this is yet another key was a major state along the old Silk Road in Taiwan than anywhere else, and he’s explained tearfully that the extra (all being well) and Singapore. ingredient in Ma’s “world music” project. route) is central to his comprehensive sure to be given a very warm welcome at money was used to cover costs There’ll be 13 performers for the In and Kaohsiung there and inclusive undertaking. all of them. Want to buy at T-shirt? Photo: Taipei times for the event. RESTAURANTS BY Catherine Shu BY Ian Bartholomew TIDBITS BY David Chen Kitchen Pucci 葡吉小廚 angzhou Soup Dumplings (杭 Qing Dynasty emperor. They own in this category, proving 州小籠湯包) boasts that its are certainly tasty, and a slightly that it can produce a well above ak Kababish is a rarity when it comes to street food in Ximending. Address: 1 Nanjing W Rd, Taipei City (台北市南京西路1號) Telephone: (02) 2563-2787 dumplings are of Din Tai different take on the usual soup average product, and for the price HFung (鼎泰豐) quality at hawker dumpling format, with a thicker, nobody is complaining. A range of This outdoor stand, located at 49 Open: Mondays to Fridays 11am to 9:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 10pm EmeiP St, Taipei City (台北市峨嵋街49號), Average meal: NT$200 to NT$300 On the Net: www.new-puen.tw/KTtop.htm prices. Neither claim is true, but softer wrapping and a liquid filling. ingredients for mixing your own has been serving Pakistani-style chapati Details: Chinese, English and Japanese menu. Credit cards accepted the restaurant has acquired a With just a little julienned ginger dumpling dip is a nice touch and wraps, kebabs and Indian milk tea for reputation for tasty and reasonably and some soy sauce, it is excellent includes various types of chili, nearly seven years. priced steamed dumplings, along comfort food. mashed garlic, ginger, soy Unfortunately for loyal customers, itchen Pucci (葡吉小廚) is a upon contact with our chopsticks. with a range of other small dishes The regular soup dumplings and vinegar. the Pakistani owners, Raja Akhtar and tapas bar with Shanghai-style My dining companions and I also served in a casual and relatively (小籠湯包, NT$90) suffer a little The restaurant does not his wife Mariam, are closing shop at food. The interior of the enjoyed the fried scallion roll with clean environment. given that they are more widely manage quite so well in the more the end of next month. Krestaurant is clean and modern, beef (大餅捲牛肉, NT$110). The The original store, located available. Yet Hangzhou’s soup elaborate preparations. Dishes Their grilled beef, lamb and with floor-to-ceiling windows crispy exterior of the wrapping a little south at 53-5, Hangzhou dumplings manage to hold its such as the steamed clams with chicken tikka kebabs (NT$50 each) just don’t appeal to the Taiwanese, in the back that show off a row gave way to a chewy center and S Rd Sec 2 (杭州南路二段53之 sponge gourd (蒸蛤蠣絲瓜, NT$150) Mariam lamented in a conversation of live bamboo against a red the scallions landed just the right 5號), is a grubby little nest with failed to live up to expectations, earlier this week. brick wall. The petite portions amount of kick (though the roll sidewalk seating that has tons of with sloppy presentation and The Akhtars are closing because of Shanghai classics, including could have done with a little atmosphere but scores low on a washed out flavor. Similar they can no longer afford the rent xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings, more beef). hygiene. Visiting a few years ago, disappointment accompanied (NT$38,000 a month) for this 1-ping are adorable, as are the Kitchen Pucci’s noodle dishes my abiding impression was of another dish requiring subtlety (3.3m2) space. Raja, who regular restaurant’s extremely reasonable come with “thin noodles” or sitting too close to the city drains, and care, the simple chicken soup customers will remember as the prices and quick, friendly service. chunky knife-shaved noodles (刀 pungent odors wafting up from (原盅雞湯, NT$80), which failed to bearded man behind the counter that tosses fresh chapati dough into the air 削麵 There are two versions ), which are sliced directly below street level. This in no way deliver on both taste and texture. like pizza, has taken on construction of xiaolongbao, one filled from the dough into thick strips diminished the establishment’s Attempts to broaden out to work to pay the bills. with fragrant broth and one before being boiled. The knife- popularity, because even other cuisines also displayed I’ll miss the chicken tikka chapati without. The best version is, not shaved noodles have a satisfyingly back then Hangzhou Soup inadequate command of technique. (NT$60), which is a tasty, light surprisingly, the former, which al dente texture without any Dumplings was known to be good The ribs steamed with black bean alternative to typical night market are called steamed Shanghai juicy unpleasant graininess on the and inexpensive. (豆鼓排骨, NT$50), a Cantonese fare. You have to wait a little longer dumplings (上海小籠包, NT$180 inside. We liked them best in the The new location has spruced favorite, probably included on than you would at a fried dumpling for 12) on the menu. Rich, savory Shanghai-style scallion mixed up its image, with a proper store- the menu simply because it was a stand, but it’s worth it — the chicken is marinated in a curry sauce before and indeed juicy, they are served noodles (上海蔥開乾拌麵, NT$80) front, tiled floor and wooden tables steamed preparation, was almost grilling and the chapati is hot and fresh. on a bed of pine needles, which, because the scallions, cooked Kitchen Pucci stands out with its tapas- that are not slick with grease. anemic. The extraordinarily The chapati (NT$30) is even good by without altering the flavor, prevent several different ways (the green sized servings of Shanghai-style classics Prices have crept up a bit, but they battered steaming basket in which itself, or you can have it with peanut the thin wrapper from sticking to leaves fried until crispy, the white and knife-shaved noodles. are still a long way below the giddy it was served may have been a butter or chocolate sauce for an extra the bamboo steamer. The other stalks boiled until soft) offered an Photos: Catherine Shu, Taipei Times heights that Din Tai Fung charges. nod to the shop’s hawker origins, NT$10. All of the food is halal. steamed dumplings (小籠包, NT$50 unexpected melange of textures. The top seller on the but sat oddly with the attempt to Raja says he hopes to find a more for three or NT$100 for six) are The mixed noodles with spicy thin flour wrappers stuffed with restaurant’s menu are its Qianlong achieve a more polished look for affordable location to serve chapatis acceptable but lack the oomph sauce (辣醬乾拌麵, NT$80) were sweet red bean paste. Simple, soup dumplings (乾隆灌湯餃, its new location. and kebabs again. For now, Mariam that the broth provides. also good, though not as fiery but a suitable complement to the NT$90), purportedly derived from The upgrade to Hangzhou Soup plans to return to her native Karachi, where she says it will be easier to find Other pleasing picks on as the chili pepper symbol next stronger flavored main dishes. a favorite snack of a powerful Dumplings is only a partial success. work. The 48-year-old says she is “so Kitchen Pucci’s menu include its to the menu entry suggests. The The variety of steamed dumplings sad” to leave as she came to Taipei to small serving of “Szechuan-style” stir-fried knife-shaved noodles certainly makes it worthwhile, even be closer with her Taiwanese mother, steamed spareribs (川味粉蒸排 with Judas’ ear fungus (木須炒 Hangzhou Soup Dumplings though other dishes are of middling who lives in Banciao. But making a 骨, NT$80), which are covered in 麵, NT$120), however, were too Hangzhou Soup Dumplings 杭州小籠湯包 has gone upmarket, slightly. quality at best. As for atmosphere living here has been tough. “Only ground rice flavored with spices, greasy and bland. Photos: Ian Bartholomew, Taipei Times and street-side buzz, the grimy work, so tired, no money,” she said. lots of pepper and served on top For dessert, consider the Address: 17, Hangzhou S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市杭州南路二段17號) old establishment wins hands Pak Kababish (巴基斯坦印度串燒) is of steamed yam chunks. The steamed bean paste buns (豆 Telephone: (02) 2393-1757 Open: 11:30am to 9:30pm down — even taking into account open from 4pm to 10pm. tender meat slipped off the bone 沙小包, NT$60 for six) — very Average meal: NT$300 Details: Chinese menu. Credit cards not accepted the drains.