It's happened. I've died and I'm now in hell. Hellschu. We've been hit by a typhoon and we're being kept indoors - in our mock hotel.
A few days ago it was all going so well - we had our dress rehearsal for the press and then had the afternoon off. The hosts had planned a day trip for us (seeing as there's nothing nearby to occupy our free time), a trip to a village in the mountains. The village is an old Taiwanese aboriginal site and we bought bizarre gifts to bring home (top prize went to my wooden cock ash tray, an aboriginal fertility symbol I am reliably informed). One shop was full of local insects encased in glass - huge spiders, beetles and, strangely, little sea horses. We gave it a wide berth, but stroked the pig on a chain that was at the front door.
This is one of the stage management team, Colly, with the pig. Colly is on the left.
We had a really interesting trip, which finished with a bite to eat, and then headed back to the mock hotel for some Tiawanese Beer and Smirnoff Ice purchased from 7-11 (or 'home' as I call it). The next morning we all had a lie in and then performed two really good shows - we were all delighted just to be doing something. That night, however, we got the news - the typhoon was coming and the next day's shows were cancelled! Moreover, we were not to leave the hotel.
Cabin fever doesn't cover it. There was a strong wind blowing, dark, dark skies, claps of thunder and flashes of lightning that lit up the sky like bright sunshine. There's no bar in our mock hotel, no restaurant ... there's a communal area full of mismatched sofas next to the reception desk, which became an impromtu poker den for the duration. I don't play poker - but then I don't speak Mandarin and that didn't stop me trying to watch TV as I lay on my hard bed. This must be what prison is like, I thought. A really bad, tropical, foreign prison with very, very bad TV.
The following day the hosts informed us that we could go outdoors if we wanted - they would take us into Hsinchu town. There was a rush for the door. We visited a budhist city temple.
The big man himself.
This is Conleth our lighting designer (and official photographer) and Kylie, chief Mer-Sister. Shortly after this picture was taken we decided to try and get a taxi back to the mock hotel - and then the heavens opened and an impressive thunderstorm got underway. We got absolutley drenched, and as we sat steaming in the taxi, wondering how the driver was able to see out of the soaked windscreen, the sleeves of our waterproofs were full of water and the condensation on the windows hid the view revealed by the lightning.
We have two days left and we think that all of the shows are going ahead. We'll be grateful to be busy. I still can't play poker - though, thanks to the TV, my Mandarin is coming along a treat.
