AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Susannah Mihakis and friend Peter saw the Chinese Spectacular when it premiered in Auckland April 17.
Along with an enthusiastic audience at the ASB Theatre in the Aotea Centre, they "loved it".
"I find the whole history fascinating, it's just an entirely different world to ours and it's something really different," said Peter.
"It's taking you into a whole world that I haven't thought about before," said Ms Mihakis, "It's wonderful to be able to go into another world."
She referred to the first scene 'Descent of the Celestial Kings', saying, "The whole theory of being up in the heavens in the clouds, wonderful, just wonderful."
Peter noted that the performers were "very disciplined" but also joyous throughout the show.
"I think they give it [Chinese history] a lot of respect too. You can see the respect and the enjoyment in them and I think they are enjoying it, themselves."
Ms Mihakis said she enjoyed the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance', "oh my goodness the gracefulness in that!" and the 'Chopsticks Zest', had intrigued her "oh wonderful" but the opera singers had really made her curious about the possibilities of Chinese performing arts.
"Its wonderful and I guess its ignorant without meaning to be, but I guess the only opera singer you ever hear is Italian generally, so its great to think 'Wow—okay, so the Chinese have opera singers'.
"I mean I am Greek – we don't have opera singers as such. "Yes its wonderful to see that part of culture coming through, that I wasn't aware of."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.BestChineseShows.com.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit:
http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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