M. Butterfly

M. Butterfly is a play by David Henry Hwang (1957-)[1]

Not to be confused with the play Madame Butterfly by David Belasco.

The original text

Loosely based on the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a male Peking opera singer and inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.

The action of the play takes place in a Paris prison, 1989, and in recall, the years 1960-1986 in Beijing and Paris.

The play premiéred on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 20, 1988, winning the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play and closing after 777 performances on January 27, 1990.

Published by Plume and in an acting edition by Dramatists Play Service, and Penguin Publishers in 1993.

Translations and adaptations

Hwang adapted the play for a 1993 film directed by David Cronenberg with Jeremy Irons and John Lone in the leading roles.

Performance history in South Africa

1989: First performed in South Africa 1 October at the Alhambra Theatre, Johannesburg, presented by Pieter Toerien by arrangement with Stuart Ostrow and David Geffen. Directed by Robert Whitehead directed with Sean Taylor, Jeremy Crutchley, Chris Buchanan, Gina Benjamin, John Whiteley, Charlotte Butler, Christine le Brocq and Gideon de Wet and Warren Philips alternating as Kurogo. The director assisted by Gina Benjamin, lighting design by Jannie Swanepoel, set design by Patrick Noomé, costumes designed and co-ordinated by Margo Fleisch. Music by Giacomo Puccini [2] and Lucia Hwong.