Melbourne was thrust into chaos when a horrendous multi-vehicle crash in the Burnley Tunnel on Friday caused massive traffic delays throughout the entire city.
With many of the Victorian populace in distress following the tragic road accident, the Divine Performing Arts troupe provided a much needed respite with their uplifting and magical show.
But it was not the easiest time for New Tang Dynasty Television's (NTDTV) "Chinese New Year Spectacular" organisers and performers to make final preparations for their first Melbourne show.
With such disturbance on the city roads it was a profound relief to the show's organisers when the truck bringing the supply of dry ice for special effects was a mere 10 minutes late.
Thankfully, the performers experienced no delays in getting to the theatre, compared with Leeshai Lamish even finding time to give an interview. When asked about what he had learned about ancient China through hosting the show, Leeshai said that he was constantly impressed with the enormous diversity of Chinese culture with each dynasty being totally unique, as well as there being tremendous provincial variations.
Provincial diversity is certainly something with which Australians can identify, though mostly in the area of different football codes and political rivalry.
Leeshai also said that he found traditional Chinese culture "a very pure form of artistic expression—very simple yet profound at the same time". Interestingly, some have made similar comments about indigenous Australian culture. Leeshai went on to say that he found most ideas from the ancient past to be "very pure and simple". He believed that it was this purity that led "Spectacular" audiences to so often describe the show as "refreshing".
With water reserves at an all-time low, Melburnians are about to be hit with stage 4 water restrictions. Just half an hour before the start of the show, the heavens opened and down came the first downpour.
Over the last 24 hours, the Melbourne area was pleasantly refreshed by the much-needed rain. In some locations, it had poured for much of the night, with heavy showers continuing well into Saturday afternoon. The Victorian drought may not be completely broken, but land and people have been refreshed by life-giving water on the one hand, and nectar for the soul, courtesy of the "Spectacular", on the other.
The Epoch Times is proud to join with New Tang Dynasty TV and Sound of Hope Radio in co-sponsoring NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular ( http://shows.ntdtv.com. )
Feeds