PITTSBURGH, Pa.—It’s the unique wondrous effect of the arts to transport us—in this case, from a frozen Pennsylvanian town to the elegant palaces of China thousands of years ago.
Physician Mike Lynch and his wife attended this performance and were filled with admiration for the performers and curiosity about China’s history.
“We were just commenting on the grace and beauty and athleticism of the performers,” said Mr. Lynch. “It’s really impressive.”
“I didn’t know a lot about Chinese history and culture, and I think using the stories and the dance and productions to bring it to life really helps you understand I think a little more—not just the dates and the times but of the background and the culture of the people,” he said.
Remembrances
John and Cathy Mary, respectively marketing director and CEO of their family’s electrical contracting company, were happy to see the performance after having heard about it for many years. They reflected on the contrast between the Chinese people’s culture and that of the communist regime.“The show here was just amazing. And we enjoyed it very much,” said Mrs. Mary. “China’s a wonderful country. It’s just unfortunate for the people who live there that they live under an oppressive regime.”
“The culture that it shows—the belief in a higher power—[it was] very nice to see,” he said. “Me and my son went to China. ... We spent about three, four weeks there. And we got the impression that the people there want to believe in a higher power, but the government doesn’t permit them.”
He continued: “Walking through the Forbidden City, you got the sense that there was a belief in a higher being. And that spiritual belief that doesn’t exist now. The Forbidden City is now just a place to go for tours. ... We talked to people off the record that were very sad with what was happening in China.”
