Q&A

1. Describe the plan about your Mook.
Our theme for Mook is palmardrama.
There are three editors in this Mook; which are: Cindy Wang, Amy Ma and Tahki Huang.
In this Mook, we will introduce the masters of palmardrama, Hai-dai Huang, Jiun-shiung Huang and Tian-lu Li, also to interview some fans and workers.
We will be visiting palmardrama museums in Yuenlin, Danshuei and Shinjuang.
In this Mook we will be debating on the topics of sexuality and Hakka hand puppet.
We will place some advertisements about National Theater Concert Hall, theatrical company, and Formosa Children’s Toys in the Mook.
We want to use palmardrama to make a history chain that links traditions and modern times together.

2.In this Mook, how to connect the palmardrama with the editors?We want to use the roles of the Taiwanese Palmardrama to represent our editor members.
In the palmardrama, they have individual roles.
For example, Ching Yang-Zi is a first-rate fighter with a respectable and brave heart.
Mo-Kui is an honest, intelligent man and keeps to his promises.
Jian Ru-Bing is a beautiful, gentle and bright woman.
Our members are Cindy Wang, Amy Ma, Tahki Huang. We represent the character of Ching Yang-Zi, Mo-Kui, Jian Ru-Bing.

3.Yuenlin is known as the “hometown of the palmardrama”. What are features of palmardrama in Yuenlin?
In Yuenlin, there are different types of palmardrama of TV or outdoor puppet show.
In 1970, Chun-Hsiung Huang created the “Shih Yen-Wen” character and broadcasted in TV. This TV programme had the record for highest TV programme rating by broadcast 583 episodes. Chun-Hsiung Huang was born in Yuenlin that is why Yuenlin became the “hometown of the palmardrama”.

4.Introduction of the palmardrama museum in Danshuei.
This house was built during the Japanese time, but it is a monument now.
This palmardrama house was established in 2003, it is constructed with local cultures. There are puppets, costumes, props, and a small classroom to teach people how to act in palmardrama.
This palmardrama house has successfully combined palmardrama with Danshuei’s old street.

5.We are studying and living in Shinjuang, can you tell us palmardrama’s development in Shinjuang?
Palmardrama was famous in Shinjuang, at the time palmardrama was highly developed in Shinjuan; Shinjuang’s 359th Lane Street was also known as “theater Lane”. There were nine groups of palmardrama in this street, and they used to act in temples in Taiwan.

6.Hai-Dai Huang is one of masters of the Taiwanese Hand Puppet Theatre. Can you explain what his achievements are?
1. Hai-Dai Huang is one of the masters in Taiwan’s palmardrama, he had created “Intercontinental Garden” in palmardrama theatrical company. He taught his sons Chun-Hing Huang and Chun-Hsiung Huang in the company, and his sons successfully enhanced palmardrama. After Hai-Dai Huang died, people called him “the god of Taiwan’s palmardrama”, and people has made Hai-Dai Huang‘s birthday as the Palmardrama’s day.

7.Tian-Lu Li is a very important person of the Taiwanese Hand Puppet Theatre. What did he do for palmardrama?
Tian-lu Li is a very important person of the palmardrama. In 1945, when Taiwan was still under the Japanese colonial rule, the palmardrama was the important entertainment for people, Tian-lu Li created the Fashionable Clothing Palmardrama.
When Tian-lu Li was 65 years old, he taught a French apprentice, the apprentice publicised the palmardrama in Europe, Tian-lu Li and his palmardrama became famous in Europe.

8.The palmardrama has been separated into many periods. What are the palmardrama’s characteristics in the early periods?In the early periods, the palmardrama usually played outdoors, the scripts are usually related to old books and novels.
In 1920, the palmardrama’s scripts are usually related with Wuxia Novels and focused on the special effects.
In 1950, palmardrama focused on the beauty of scenery and costumes and the use of light and sound effects.

9. Can you explain what is the most popular the palmardrama nowadays?
The Pili palmardrama is the most popular in Taiwan nowadays. The Pili palmardrama has its own Pili Satellite TV channel, and the most popular movie of “Legend of the Sacred Stone”.
Pili palmardrama TV programme started in 1985, and still continues today. It is one of the most popular TV programme in Taiwan. Pili palmardrama show is performed by many kinds of puppets, some are cool, some are intelligent, and some are funny. Unlike traditional palmardrama shows, Pili palmardrama uses state-of-the-art animation to help presenting its fighting art.

10.How to bring the traditional palmardrama into modern times?
The traditional palmardrama is declining gradually, but we thought that some changes are needed in palmardrama to catch young people’s eyes with new marketing styles.
They can develop the new commodity, for example toys, cartoons, movies, music, comic books, TV and/or PC Games. They can also use the Internet Marketing to popularise palmardrama. Most importantly, they must create new stories and new scripts in which the young people are interested in.