THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular completed a successful two-day run in the Netherlands and received standing ovations at both shows—despite the antics of a few disruptive audience members.
Staged February 19 and 20 at the World Forum Theatre in The Hague, the first show went off without a hitch. However, during the second night's performance, some highly unusual behavior was displayed by a handful of people in the audience.
On the day of the first show, famous Dutch comedian and more recently human rights activist Erik van Muiswinkel had commented on a Dutch television talk show that the Chinese Embassy had been interfering with the Spectacular. On the second night's performance, he witnessed for himself what some of the show's staff believed to be deliberate interference from the Embassy, which is located within walking distance of the theatre.
According to Ms. Wang who works with the Spectacular, about 20 minutes into the show she saw someone in the first few rows taking pictures, despite a large sign by the theatre entrance saying cameras were not allowed inside.
There was also an announcement in Dutch, English and Chinese at the beginning of the performance telling the audience that taking pictures was not permitted.
Wang investigated and found two Chinese women in their twenties taking pictures with their cell phones. One took pictures while sometimes playing with her hair, flipping her scarf, or lifting up her purse, seemingly to disguise her actions.
Wang said she approached the women and reminded them of the theatre policy against taking pictures.
However one of the women continued to take pictures even after a second reminder from Wang, so during the intermission Wang confronted the woman and asked her to hand over her cell phone.
Wang said another woman then jumped out of a nearby seat and physically bumped into Ms. Wang. Then a man got up and both of them claimed to be the parents of the woman who had been taking pictures. They denied their daughter took any pictures and told the younger woman not to turn in her cell phone.
Wang said they yelled at her, saying, "Take a look at your attitude, nobody wants to see this show."
By then theater security intervened. After inspecting the cell phone, they found dozens of performance pictures stored on it. Security erased the pictures and gave the cell phone back to the woman.
Later in the show a man in the audience became disruptive, yelling and making loud noises. Wang said she noticed this group of people didn't turn around to see what was going on as others did. They showed no signs of surprise or interest and just stared at Wang. When the man made noises the third time, they burst into laughter, said Wang.
This occurred during "Power of Awareness," a performance portraying bystanders stepping in to stop police brutality against Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong is a meditation practice which by 1999 grew to an estimated 70-100 million practitioners in China. In that year it was banned, and has since been severely persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Ms. Deng, a Dutch resident of many years, was sitting close to the man who started yelling. She said he was Chinese and in his 50s, casually dressed. After "Power of Awareness" started, he suddenly began to yell and sing.
Deng said she was very upset because this was affecting other people watching the show and was unethical. She went over to the man and reminded him to be quiet but a few moments later he yelled again.
Deng said a Dutch man approached and said he would find the security. When the Chinese man yelled once more, Deng asked him to stop. She said some audience members around him stood up, perturbed by the disturbance.
Security soon arrived and escorted the man out, during which he shouted in Chinese, "Do not watch the show, leave with me!" though his words were not heeded, and the performance received considerable applause.
After the show, Deng said some audience members thanked her for confronting the man.
Mr. Wu, part of the security staff, said after being escorted outside the man told him he was from Singapore. However Wu said he had a distinct south-east China accent suggesting he might be from Fujian province.
While the man was being escorted out of the theatre, he removed two universal remote controls from inside his shirt. Security also found a large music player and sound amplifier in his bags. According to show technical staff, such remote controls could be used to interfere with the technology used to project the show's backdrop images, a key element of Divine Performing Arts performances.
Curiously, the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands happened to host a Chinese New Year gala on the same two days as the Divine Performing Arts shows, said Ms. Dai, the co-ordinator for the Spectacular.
However, despite the Embassy offering free tickets to its show, ticket sales for the Spectacular were not affected and Divine Performing Arts and theatre staff were pleased with the attendance.
Since the Chinese Spectacular began in 2004, Chinese Embassies and consulates around the world have resorted to various measures to stop the Spectacular from being presented, or to interfere with the shows in some way.
Letters from Embassy and consulate officials have been received by a number of politicians, performers, and venues in many cities urging them not to take part in the Spectacular shows or express support.
In Korea in 2007 the Embassy even managed to pressure the hosting venue to renege on a contract to have the show presented, though the Divine Performing Arts managed to secure another venue and enjoyed back-to-back sold out shows.
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