衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

Distinguishing features of To the Satisfaction of All 

In traditional xiqu, there is a saying that shows the importance of the xiqu orchestra, "Thirty percent of acting, seventy percents of music." The puppets, the speaking and the music are keys to a successful work. To the Satisfaction of All puts special efforts on how the audience hears the show. It cancels the speeches, instead, it highlights the Beiguan music, and tries to reverse its style into "Seventy percent of acting, thirty percents of music." The audience has to look more closely at the puppets' gestures and actions. Without the speeches, the performance breaks the walls of languages, races and ages. Therefore, its performance could be seen as "hand puppet mimes." Chang Yi Ge expects to communicate with the world via the artistic crafts, the music, and the body languages of the hand puppets.

Synopsis of To the Satisfaction of All

To the Satisfaction of All is a singular narrative. Therefore, it's easier for the audience to understand. The main characters are Young Man, Young Lady, Servant, Maid, Tiger with magical power and Taoist Priest that saves the humans from Tiger. 

The story begins with the daily life of Young Man and Young Lady. Servant serves Young Man to grind the ink stick against the inkstone and to write with the ink; Maid helps Young Lady to comb her hair and washes her face. Then, Servant carries the book box and travels with Young Man. They climb the mountains and ride a ship to go across a river. Tiger appears and disguises itself as an old woman. Young Man and Servant have their meals, Tiger chases them, Servant faints and Young Man runs. Fortunately Taoist Priest shows up to protect them. Taoist Priest and Tiger fight with magical weapons and tools such as flying swords and flying balls. Taoist Priest uses a gourd to make the Tiger show its real form. In the end, Tiger succumbs. Young man and Servant thank Taoist Priest for his rescue, then Taoist Priest rides a cloud with Tiger and bids farewell. In the next scene, Young Man rides a horse and goes back to his hometown. He has come first in the highest imperial examination. The jugglers celebrate around him. Young Man and Young Lady reunite. Servant and Maid fall in love.

  Team Introduction  

Introduction of Chang Yi Ge Hand Puppet Theater

Chang Yi Ge Hand Puppet Theater was established in 1945. During its 78 years of history, the company is also a family-owned troupe of four generations. In 2013, Chang Yi Ge was recognized by Chiayi City Government as the intangible cultural heritage. It has been selected as Chiayi City's Outstanding Performance Troupe for twenty consecutive years. In 2020, Chang Yi Ge was chosen by National Culture and Arts Foundation for 2020 Taiwan Top Performing Arts Group.
Although Chang Yi Ge is an old troupe, it is managed with innovative ideas. Besides the traditional way of "learning from massive amounts of performances," the company also emphasizes combing through historical documents and doing field research, in the purpose of building its own local viewpoints. By deconstructing the traditional narrative framework, Chang Yi Ge tries to maintain the hand puppet skills and meanwhile continues to invent, create and pass on the beauty of the hand puppet theater.

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