Actor Yang Chi-yu draws on personal scam experience for musical role

Taiwanese actor Yang Chi-yu, known as Xiao Yu, is taking on a dramatically different role in the musical "Working in a Fraud Company," portraying a flamboyant scammer boss. He revealed that his nuanced performance is deeply rooted in his own life experiences, drawing inspiration from "unpleasant bosses" he encountered during his career.

Reflecting on past hardships, Yang recounted a significant personal ordeal where his credit card was secretly duplicated, leading to a series of small, overnight fraudulent transactions totaling NT$300,000. He managed to recover the funds after promptly reporting the issue to the bank.

Since joining the production, Yang feels he has developed a strong "immunity" to various forms of deception. He claims he can now easily detect the tactics behind suspicious phone calls, text messages, or sales pitches. He even humorously admits to occasionally "scamming" his own two sons at home with playful phrases like, "Finish your meal, and Dad will take you out to play!"

The musical, which has been running for several years, also features behind-the-scenes moments of camaraderie and improvisation among the cast. Yang admitted to frequently forgetting his lines but remained unfazed, relying on his fellow actors to help him through. He shared that he and co-stars like Chen Ya-yu and Hsu Hao-chung have developed a close bond, often incorporating current events and generational humor into their performances, leading to spontaneous and engaging interactions on stage.