This Tony Award-winning play of David Henry Hwang is about a French diplomat who enters a torrid love affair with a star of the Chinese opera. What he doesn't realize, however, is that his beloved is a double agent for the Red Chinese -- and that "she" is a man in disguise.
Raymond Francisco's (So Liling) performance is truly hypnotic in this awesome flick! M Butterfly is shrouded in the mystic atmosphere of the Orient tackling the clash of civilizations, the white's man burden, a steamy love affair that gone sour and finally a jaw-dropping twist!
Olivier Borten's character is egoistic, flawed, self-centered - not the guy to evoke sympathy. But by the end, he is an incredibly sympathetic character who has lost all for love. Need to be open-minded, but it's powerful.
Based on true events that are hard enough to believe as it is, this theatrical play can touch the emotions & still be intellectual which make this stand out. Covering almost twenty years in the life of a tawdry French diplomat (Olivier Borten), the story of M. Butterfly seems to depict the lengths to which people will maintain their delusions to stay happy. After seeing a lead performer (RS Francisco) in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, the diplomat falls in love with the star singer. Though the object of his love is cross-dressing actor, the diplomat seems oblivious to the truth and begins an affair of some chasteness for years in China. When the Communist Cultural Revolution separates the would-be lovers, the actress Song is sent off to prison and the diplomat is recalled to France. When they re-connect years later at Song's urging, the Irons character may be the victim of a spy plot to gain sensitive information for the Communist government and Song may be the key manipulator. The question is, how much each knows about the other? What are the secrets left untold?
When so many scenes stick with you for you to mull after watching, you know the show did something well. This theatrical play is weird, melodramatic, and leaves you dazed and confused at the horrific, unbelievable, yet true story it is based on. You either love it or regret it.
M BUTTERFLY will run until September 30,2018 at Maybank Performing Arts Theatre in BGC, Taguig City. Get your tickets now!
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