LOS ANGELES—“It’s fantastic, I love it!” said Blaine Capatch, TV stand-up comedian and writer, after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company’s performance of classical Chinese dance and music being played at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday evening, Jan. 14.
Mr. Capatch is best known for his hosting of Comedy Central game show Beat the Geeks.
“I’ve seen international dance troupes, but never anything like this,” Mr. Capatch said of Shen Yun.
“Great colors, great dancing, everybody is smiling,” he said.
Mr. Capatch particularly enjoyed the dance “Lotus Leaves” where the dancers carry unique full-circle silk fans that sway like lily pads in the wind, evoking scenes of a flowering lotus garden in the summertime, according to the program.
“I liked the water lilies … lotus flowers,” he said.
Shen Yun’s graphic design team has masterfully created detailed background scenery to enhance each story-based dance, something Mr. Capatch liked. “Very cool, nicely done,” he said.
The story of the Monkey King, a key figure from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West is shown in the dance How the Monkey King Came To Be. “Gotta love the Monkey King!” Mr. Capatch said.
The Shen Yun Orchestra combines classical Western and ancient Chinese instruments such as the erhu (2-stringed violin,) the pipa and the dizi (bamboo flute). The result is two classical music traditions producing one unexpected, refreshing sound.
Commenting on the orchestra, Mr. Capatch said, “They’re terrific.
“Everything about this show is really amazing. Very well-rehearsed; it looks effortless.”
Regarding the Chinese culture, Mr. Capatch said, “I liked it! It’s really beautiful. A beautiful patience to everything that I loved.”
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Maria Banks.
New York-based Shen Yun has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, San Diego, Jan. 19-22.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
