SEOUL, South Korea—Since Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company landed in Korea on Jan. 31, it has attracted various figures from the entertainment and arts fields. On February 6, Yeong-Chan Gwon, an award winning comedian, attended the New York-based show in Seoul.
Mr Gwon was impressed with the creative use of digital technology to enhance the themes in the DPA saying, “The use of high technological 3-D backdrops is very vivid. The figures seem to walk out from the images and onto the stage.
“This usage cannot be seen in any other Korean shows. It is very creative,” he said.
Speaking Mandarin, Mr. Gwon said he had always been interested in Chinese culture and had, in fact, studied Chinese as a second major.
Despite his respect for Chinese culture, recent experiences with Chinese shows had led to low expectations for the night, he said. After seeing the DPA however, he was pleasantly surprised.
“Before when I think about Chinese performance, what pops up in my mind is acrobatics. However, today I saw various characteristics of Chinese classical dance. I feel that there is a lot to it,” he said.
From DPA, he said had learned about the divinely-imparted traditional Chinese culture. Performances such as The Monkey King Triumphs are very interesting, while Dance of the Yi had touched him deeply.
“This rich and glamorous minor ethnic culture really leaves a deep impression in people’s hearts,” he said.
Mr Gwon won an award for his skills as a comedian from KBS University in 1992.
With an eye for the theatre he noted many details in the production, describing the colors and costuming of the DPA as extremely “beautiful” and “luxurious.” The backdrops too impressed Mr Gwon who said they were “unique.”
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
