EDMONTON—Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, London, Vienna and finally Edmonton are a few of the cities the Divine Performing Arts visited during their 2008 trip around the world. In Edmonton, theatre-goers from all levels of society left Jubilee Hall with wide smiles, gratitude and excitement after seeing the "authenticity" of the Chinese Spectacular.
Raven Blackwell, the president of a software company in Edmonton, said he attended the Spectacular with friends and family. He expressed his thanks for the universal message the show brings.
"There is a different sense [about this show] – truthfulness compassion and tolerance. I liked that message."
Blackwell acknowledged that those values are common and added "Yes, but here is a show that is actually saying something about it. Here is a show that is giving out a message to people and people should hear that message."
He added: "Have compassion for your fellow man and woman. It's a message other people should understand and hear. It's not only for Chinese people. I thank the Chinese people for doing it.
"I was also very interested in the Falun Gong and the message that was given during the songs and the dances and symbolism and mythology of the dances and so on. It was, I would say quite inspiring."
"I think I need to investigate [Falun Gong] some more. I have heard of it. From what I can see and what I heard is that it's looking for freedom. It's all about freedom and that's a good thing.
"The beautiful costumes, the choreography of everything was fantastic. Everyone should come and see this show. It's inspirational too.
"The drumming was very good. I think the singing was amazing... they were all good so I wouldn't want to say just one. But Hong Ming [who sang "Rest in Knowing"] was extraordinary." He said the singers all did a "fantastic job."
The music in the Spectacular was also very good, he said, especially the erhu soloist and the pianist.
About Chinese culture he said: "In our software company he had some Chinese people working for us so we always talk about it and ask questions. We love Chinese food too so we aren't strangers to that.
"I think it's good for the world, absolutely. It's universal" Blackwell said after hearing that the Chinese Spectacular has been to five continents and reached hundreds of thousands of people. "The message that this show is producing, it's not only for the western world. But the Western world needs it more than anyone else, unfortunately."
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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