The sudden change of the program, which is rarely encountered in Taiwan, was quite an eye-opener for me.
Upon arriving at the Satyricon theater, the ticket checker examined my ticket and spoke rapidly in Russian. Seeing my puzzled expression, he realized that I didn't understand a word. A spectator behind me noticed our communication barrier and stepped in, using a combination of English, Russian, and hand gestures to explain that the scheduled show had been replaced at the last minute. Just two hours earlier, Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" was replaced with a comedy whose title I couldn't comprehend.
"Two hours ago?" This was unimaginable to me. My experience in theater tells me that the process of setting up, performing, and tearing down a stage can take several days to a week. If "Notes from Underground" was successfully performed the previous night, why was there a last-minute change? Did they have enough time to dismantle the set? Would the upcoming show be ready with its set and technical rehearsals? Due to the language barrier, I was left in the dark about these questions. The only clarity I received was that sudden show changes were commonplace here.
Sure enough, the stage design, lighting, and staff were all greatly simplified. That made me understand why this specific play was chosen. The actors' vivid and exaggerated body language and manner of speaking made me, someone who didn't understand Russian, laugh heartily. Perhaps this unexpected change was a blessing in disguise after all.