M. Butterfly
Theatre Esprit Asia: 9/4 – 9/28
Playwright David
Henry Hwang’s “M. Butterfly” received two Tony Awards while on Broadway in the
final years of the 1980s. Based upon a news article about a Frenchman who falls
for a diva that’s a star of the Chinese opera, the show addresses questions of
racial stereotyping, sexual identity and whether one person can ever truly know
another.
Kevin Hart’s
acting of the part of French diplomat Rene Gallimard is outstanding. Hart
commands the stage as few actors can.
Martha Harmon
Pardee and Erica Fox provide us with a vision of strong Western women that
contrasts dramatically with that of the stereotypical subordinate Eastern
woman.
Stuart Sanks and
Verl Hite deliver the goods in numerous supporting roles.
Arlene Rapal
turns in fine work as Suzuki and Comrade Shin.
The complexity of
the role of opera star Song Liling calls for an exquisite delicacy. Anyone
having seen the ‘poetry in motion’ of the actress who portrayed Moon in Central
City Opera’s production of Guo Wen Ging’s opera “Poet Li Bai” will understand
what I mean. The stylization required for this type of work takes years to
perfect. One wishes for more attention to detail from director Rick Shiomi and
actor Charlee Chiv in eliciting this illusion.
Christopher Waller’s blood red set deserves mention for its
very fine design.
M. Butterfly plays in The Studio Theatre at Aurora Fox Arts,
9900 E. Colfax.
September 5 – 28 on Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm,Sundays
2:30pm.
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