TORONTO—A show that has received critical acclaim from audiences wherever it plays staged the first of five performances at Toronto's Sony Centre for the Performing Arts tonight.
Performed by the New York-based Divine Performing Arts Company, the 2008 Chinese New Year Spectacular wowed the audience, one of which was Ontario legislator Michael Prue.
"It is excellent, absolutely beautiful! The acrobatics, the strength, the finesse, the beauty, of it all is overwhelming," said Prue.
Having a Hong Kong-born mother-in-law, Prue is no stranger to Chinese culture.
"I know a great deal about Chinese culture, but this was an opportunity to learn even more. Of course, it is an ancient culture. I have been to China several times and I have lived among Chinese people, [Chinese] speaking people, all my life. So this is not totally new to me.
"But it is the way that it brings it all together, the way the music, the dance, and the art all come together, it is just beautiful," said Prue.
Impressed by all the programs, Prue said he especially enjoyed the portrayal of the transformation of two modern young men after they were inspired by the Buddha Law.
"[It] was phenomenal with two young men going into the Tibetan monastery. That was very well done. They had discovered something. It was really well done to bring it into modern culture, two modern young men, to have them accept the old ways. And the Buddhas were sitting there, all knowing and smiling. That was the most amazing one I saw."
Friday's performance, the first of five shows in Toronto, was one of 20 shows in Canada. After Toronto, the Spectacular will continue on its global tour, which includes an 11-day run at New York's famous Radio City Music Hall.
The Spectacular will return to Canada in the spring to play in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. By the end of its tour, the show will have played to a total live audience of 650,000 in over 60 cities.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts shows that will perform in over 60 cities worldwide in 2008. To find a show near you, please visit www.bestchineseshows.com.
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