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๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Culture & Society

Former news anchor Kenton Chen sheds dignified image for comedic role in new play

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The stage play "Urban Renewal Men and Women" premiered in Taipei, exploring family dynamics and urban development.
  • Actor Kenton Chen transformed his image, shedding his dignified news anchor persona for a comedic role in a high-waisted shorts and sandals outfit.
  • The production, supervised by Wang Chung-wei, features a cast including Fan Jui-chun and Fan Kuang-yao, and will tour other cities in Taiwan.

The stage play "Urban Renewal Men and Women" (้ƒฝๆ›ด็”ทๅฅณ) premiered to a full house at the Taipei Performing Arts Center, showcasing a blend of humor and emotional depth. The production, supervised by veteran producer Wang Chung-wei, delves into the complexities of family relationships and the challenges of urban renewal, urging characters to break down rigid dynamics and face each other with honesty.

Veteran actor Kenton Chen, known for his dignified news anchor image, underwent a significant transformation for his role as a retired civil servant. He embraced a comedic persona, appearing in high-waisted shorts, short socks, and sandals, humorously highlighting his muscular calves, a result of years of triathlon training. Chen described Wang Chung-wei's direction as "tough training" that honed his comedic timing.

People, like cities, need to strive for progress. Making a play is the same.

โ€” Wang Chung-weiThe producer described his approach to creating the play, emphasizing continuous improvement and innovation.

Actress Fan Jui-chun also made a striking appearance with vibrant red hair, portraying a middle-aged woman full of passion but struggling to find an outlet. She teamed up with co-stars Wang Yi-hsuan, Tseng Pei-yu, and "Bao Hua" Tsai Ken-yen, forming a "comedic girl group" that delivered numerous laughs and even showcased singing and dancing talents, creating a highlight of the show.

I was 'toughly trained' by Wang Chung-wei in comedic rhythm.

โ€” Kenton ChenThe actor described his experience working with the producer and his transformation for the role.

The play's visual design, featuring hand-drawn imagery by artist Sun Min, complements the narrative by depicting the passage of time and the character of old houses. Fan Kuang-yao noted that the play's creation process itself mirrored urban renewal, with Wang Chung-wei providing the core concept and collaborating with emerging talents from Taiwan's theater scene to create a fresh and sincere work.

"Urban Renewal Men and Women" is scheduled to run in Taipei until August 16th before embarking on a tour to Kaohsiung's Weiwuying and Taichung's Zhongshan Hall in September. Tickets are available through the udn ticketing website.

This play's creation process itself is like urban renewal.

โ€” Fan Kuang-yaoThe actor reflected on the collaborative nature of developing the production.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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