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National Theater Celebrates with Traditional Taiwanese Opera

Mayor Hau on stage before the show
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Lee Yong-ping attended a Ming Hwa Yuan Taiwanese Opera Troupe performance on March 17 at the Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall. The production, “The Immortal of Ponglai” is part of the celebration of the 20th Anniversary Festival of the National Theater and Concert Hall. The mayor commented on the impressiveness of the dynamic performance by Ming Hwa Yuan, and noted that the troupe is an excellent example of Taiwanese traditional art that has successfully established its brand. The group’s effort is not only notable, but also applaudable. As the opening event to begin the 20th Anniversary Festival, the play on Saturday night attracted over 40,000 viewers who congregated into CKS Memorial Hall. The cold weather did not deter the audience from experiencing the bygone era and simplicity of Taiwanese traditional arts. Before the performance, Mayor Hau and Commissioner Lee appeared onstage in costumes, along with the lead actress Sun Tsui-feng. The mayor produced a couplet banner congratulating the twenty-year anniversary of the National Theater and Concert Hall and the success of the play “Immortal of Ponglai.” He challenged Sun to translate the phrases into Taiwanese and then to sing it the traditional way. With minimal effort, the actress easily accomplished it. In addition to the borough chiefs, representatives from Taipei’s district offices and Taipei County’s city offices, the performance also attracted students from all school levels in the city. The event also set a historical record in terms of Taiwanese opera audience with the lowest average age. Founded in 1929, the seventy-year-old Ming Hwa Yuan is one of the most popular Taiwanese opera troupes in the country. The “Immortal of Ponglai” tells the story of Li Shuan, one of the Eight Immortals from Chinese folklore, who became known as the Incarnation of the Iron Clutch. The show demonstrates the troupe’s ability in combining traditional arts with great story-telling.