![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_0039-e1496381394463.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo courtesy of Memory 5D+.<\/p><\/div>\n
Since I had interviewed some of the principal players a month or so before Memory 5D+<\/em> arrived at the Pasadena Civic Center, I had a feeling it would be spectacular.\u00a0 (If you missed that column, you can still read my preview here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/upcoming-event-memory-5d<\/a>.)\u00a0 When Mr. X read what I wrote about the show, that was still upcoming at that time, he even agreed to come with me to see it, which I have a feeling that most of you know just how rare of an occurrence that is!<\/p>\n And, as usual, I was correct!\u00a0 The creativity was a sight to behold!\u00a0 And a treat for the ears, as well.\u00a0 Actually, it was a treat for other<\/em> senses, too, which I\u2019m going to tell you about in a bit.<\/p>\n The explanation of the story, shown on the scrim at the beginning of the show. (Can you tell that I was sitting on the side?) Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n There is a slight story to the program, which an announcer told us right at the beginning, but I really don\u2019t think that matters at all. We just took it as an experience with many different stunning offerings. I do know that it\u2019s a tale of the concept of yin and yang, which are personified by two wonderful dancers, Zhang Yixiang and Zhao Lei. They perform throughout the show, as does female dancer Zhou Lijun. Some others do just one number each, and every single one of them is superb and exquisite!<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t know where to look for some of the numbers; there was so much going on in them!\u00a0 For example, in one number, there was the beautiful music, which was brought to us by musicians and<\/em> singers, and a dancer\/contortionist moved slowly across the stage in a surreal way, while about twenty beautiful ladies surprised us by walking slowly down the aisles, holding glowing pink flowers.\u00a0 And, all the while, the spellbinding holographic projections were mesmerizing us.\u00a0 I needed to see that one number about five more times to catch it all!!!<\/p>\n Lucina Yue greeting her adoring New Bestie, Karen Salkin, after the show. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n And those \u201caisles walkers\u201d weren\u2019t the only special happening during the production. How\u2019s this<\/em> for special–as flowers appeared on the scrim, we literally smelled<\/em> them!!!\u00a0 What a fabulous surprise!<\/p>\n My gorgeous New Best Friend, Lucina Yue, not only played the harp like an angel, but she looked<\/em> like one, as well. And her vocals matched it all. I can\u2019t imagine how hard it must be to sing while playing the harp, of all stringed instruments. That whole number, accented by a beautiful dancer, was magical.<\/p>\n Mr. X and I both loved that the projections extended beyond the sides of the stage. And there were two levels of the visuals to begin with. Some were on the backdrop screen, while different ones showed-up on the scrim, which stayed in front of the performers until the very end, to give us that extra panoramic depth. That the ethereal images went all the way back to the balcony was the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n Zhou Siyao. Photo by John Hughes.<\/p><\/div>\n A major highlight of the show was a rousing number played by Zhou Siyao\u00a0on the pipa, which is a short-necked\u00a0fretted\u00a0lute,\u00a0an unusual instrument that reminded me sort-of of a vertical guitar.<\/p>\n And aerialists, The Xiangyun Brothers, were perfect. They brought the right amount of pizzazz to the show, without horrifying Mr. X, who\u2019s usually not a fan of acts that feature possible danger to the entertainers. Our\u00a0mouths were hanging open during their numbers, and the audience joined us\u00a0in gasping at their feats.<\/p>\n The Xiangyun Brothers. Photo courtesy of Memory 5D+.<\/p><\/div>\n I was looking forward the most to hearing the Tuvan throat singing, because it\u2019s so not the norm in entertainment in this<\/em> country, and I was not disappointed.\u00a0 At all.\u00a0 I had seen it performed on TV only a time or two in my life, and the individual was just standing there singing in that manner, so I loved the surprise of hearing it performed in songs<\/em> this time, accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments. It sounded just like Tom Waits. Maybe he\u2019s part Mongolian, and we never knew!<\/p>\n Mr. X said he was touched by the \u201cdelicate beauty\u201d of Memory 5D+<\/em>. On the way home, he added that the entire production was \u201cclassy and transporting.\u201d (I think he should be writing all these reviews instead of moi<\/em>, n\u2019est pas?) I agree with all of his assessments, and was awed myself by the entire presentation.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>