SAN DIEGO, California—Television Executive Mr. Friedman and his family returned to see Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour at San Diego’s Civic Theatre on Dec. 28.
Mr. Friedman announced: “It was beautiful and the addition of the live orchestra this year made it even better than last year and I loved it last year.” He and his family are seasoned theater patrons and even perform in community musical theater themselves.
“But this show has everything, it has the music, the dance and the drama. The story dramas are fascinating because they tell about the real history of China. It has everything.”
“My favorite part is the dancers moving together in rhythm in their beautiful costumes. I especially like the dance called The Udumbara’s Bloom—the dancers portraying its blooming were just amazing.”
The dance Mr. Friedman refers to is about the flower of Buddhist legend which blossoms only once every three thousand years. Its unfolding is said to herald the coming of a great enlightened being.
Mr. Friedman also really liked the songs and was grateful that the words were on the backdrop in English so that he could understand them.
“They make us realize how small we are here on earth and that the little things, the troubles we have are nothing compared to the greatness of the whole world. The songs were very uplifting and I think that listening to them makes people feel very good. I appreciate the beautiful things in many religions. I understand the stories and, though it may not be my religion, I appreciate them and think they are beautiful.”
When asked about how we could work towards ending the persecution of Falun Gong in China he said: “I understand the mission of the DPA in resuscitating the culture and keeping it alive and that’s a good first step in helping people understand the situation in China.”
Son Robert, a high school senior, commented: “I think this show is amazing and I really wish I could dance like they do. The stories are being told so clearly and beautifully through the dance. I really liked the part when they all come on stage with the drums—it is very cool.”
But Robert’s favorite part was The Monkey King Returns.
“I thought the Monkey King was exciting because I have read stories and seen movies about it and so he was the one I was most familiar with. I liked the temptress person—this part was new for me so I liked that.”
The Monkey King is the main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West. In the novel, he accompanies the monk Xuanzang on his journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. The dance that Robert liked is about when the monk becomes separated from the Monkey King and is set upon by a demon disguised as a temptress. The storyline reflects the magical, moral and mundane so common in the traditional Chinese novel.
The show will go next to Los Angeles, where it will play from December 30 to January 4.
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
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