Billed as a 60-minute show, this stream for the Edinburgh Fringe, in fact, finished after 25 minutes.
Presented by the Hêng-Chhun Folk Songs Association, A Story of a Chicken Leg comprises authentic Hêng-Chhun folk songs played on the Taiwanese moon guitar and sung within a group setting.
“The story revolves around A-êng, a young boy who lives in Hêng-Chhun and strongly desires to eat a chicken leg.
A series of events unfold before he finally gets the chicken leg in his lunchbox during a school trip. This heartwarming story is about love, family and brotherhood.”
Before A-êng is born, there is war, famine, and a wedding, as relatives and tradespeople add to the story and the planning.
Once the boy grows, his poverty makes him wish for success and, one day, a chicken leg to eat, something that feels completely out of reach in his childhood.
Thr songs speak of communication, friendship, kindness, and companionship. After the wedding planning, which is performed by a group of women of different ages and vocal styles, the men join in.
Hêng-Chhun is the only urban area in the south of Pingtung County, Taiwan Traditionally, it thrived on whaling, bit this industry is now banned. Now part of Kenting National Park, Hêng-Chhun has wide appeal for tourists.
A Story of a Chicken Leg takes us back to the dramatic stories of the farmers who endured life pre-, during, and post-wartime. Some of the singers are frail, weathered, weakened by time, and others are more full-voiced. A couple read their pieces.
I’d like to know more about this folk tradition and why it is still so important in Taiwan. I know some of the singers are expert preservers of the tradition: tell us more!
I appreciated the performance being given English subtitles and some explanation of the tone/style in which they perform, but this was an all-too brief look into a rich culture.
A Story of a Chicken Leg streamed live as a scheduled performance at the Edinburgh Fringe.
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