“We thought it was excellent,” Mr. Lamb said. “Great pageantry, great costumes, great acting, fantastic dancing … it has to be seen.”
Aside from the “ethereal costumes” and “beautiful movement,” Mrs. Lamb especially liked the storytelling, which she said was “vivid and evocative.”
According to the company’s website, the myths and legends presented embody the most exalted virtues of Chinese civilization and convey morals still relevant to the modern day.
Mr. Lamb was especially impressed with one of the classical Chinese dance pieces called “Water Sleeves,” where the ladies’ long, silken sleeves cascade through the air, resembling the movement of water.
“One thing that stood out for me on a technical basis was how beautifully [the] young ladies were with elongated sleeves. They not only extended them, but they could gather them back up in a moment’s notice,” he said, “It was really, really striking.”
“I think it’s wonderful that the traditions and the heritage of pre-communist China is being preserved. That’s one of the reasons we came to see the show,” he said.
“That really resonated with us because my wife and I have just published a book about persecution,” Mr. Lamb said, “I find it interesting because there’s a lot of parallels with the repression of the Falun Gong in China.”
As advocates for freedom of religion, the Lambs co-authored “The Gentle American,” a biography about American diplomat George Horton, who tried to stop the persecution of Christians in Asia Minor between the world wars.
Originally from Greece, Mrs. Lamb respects Shen Yun’s mission to preserve China’s traditional culture and heritage.
She says Shen Yun is a “must-see.”
“[You] must see it … to experience it,” she said. “It is a very unique show and [you] will learn a lot about the beautiful history of China.”
