M. Butterfly
A 1988 Tony Award winning play by David Henry Hwang loosely based on the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a male Peking opera singer. The play was inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.
Not to be confused with the play Madame Butterfly by David Belasco.
Contents
The original text
The play premiered on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 20, 1988, closing after 777 performances on January 27, 1990.
Published by Plume and in an acting edition by Dramatists Play Service.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
First performed in South Africa 1 October 1989 at the Alhambra Theatre, Johannesburg, presented by Pieter Toerien by arrangement with Stuart Ostrow and David Geffen.
The play opened at the Theatre on the Bay on 20 January 1990, starring 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. Robert Whitehead directed, 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 [1] and Lucia Hwong.
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
M. Butterfly theatre programme, 1990.
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