As someone who does support things because they are Asian, I almost bought my parents tickets to Holiday Wonders. The show, which plays in New York and also goes on tour, is a pastiche of dance and song and reminds me of things I was subjected to on Loveboat.
I think I need some time to get used to it. Although it’s now in its fifth year, it’s only the second that I’ve heard of it. Right now it seems like a very elaborate talent show, one that I only support for political reasons. This I do despite the fact that the show is neither here nor there -it’s in both English and Chinese, has both European ballet and Chinese dances. It doesn’t seem to know what it is (and yet that in itself is an Asian American trait).
At any rate, as a collection of ditties for the holiday season, it can’t be any worse than the other songs and dances offered up at this time of year. Sometimes I think Asians are their own worst enemies, with tendencies to be too critical, analytical, and demanding of themselves and of each other. Holiday Wonders wants to be a new American tradition, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t have that place.
