HAVING EXPLORED subterranean desires in the musical Subway, best-selling Taiwanese illustrator and comic book author Jimmy Liao has aimed for the sky with his latest offering Mr Wing.
And if audience reaction at its Asia premiere in Taipei this month is anything to go by, the production is likely to fly for some time.
The musical fantasy features Winston Chow (The Wedding Banquet), alongside Taiwan singer Faith Yang Nai-wei and Malaysian-Chinese singer Guan Liang (aka Michael Wang).
It's about to tour the mainland and Hong Kong, with a soundtrack due out later this year.
Better known for his roles in Ang Lee's movies, Chow may surprise many in his musical debut, although director Miguel Li Huan-hsiuen says he knew he had the perfect man from the start.
'I picked Chow because he suits this character perfectly - impeccably handsome, mature with life experience and with that rare quality of a born aristocrat in him,' says Li. 'I was never in doubt about his vocal ability. You can estimate someone's singing potential by the way he speaks. Winston has a deep and firm voice. I knew he could sing well.'