M.Butterfly

November 2, 2017

Simply put, the revival of M Butterfly by David Henry Wang is the story about a man who falls in love with a woman created by a man. The drama is not a play for everyone, yet it is a profoundly romantic play.

Clive Owen plays Rene Gallimard, a lower level French diplomat posted to China during the ‘80s. Despite his marriage of convenience, Gallimard doesn’t seem comfortable with women. Instead, he has an idealized version of women stemming from his obsession with the opera Madame Butterfly. He yearns for a woman like Butterfly who will love him and even sacrifice for him.

When he meets a Chinese diva (played by Jin Ha) who performs at the opera, he is captivated. Later “she” reveals a secret to him claiming that she is really a woman whose parents have raised her as a man. They begin an affair that adds prestige to his standing at the embassy.

The play begins with Gallimard in a cell where he has been imprisoned for treason. He gives his side of the events, romanticizing them. Song Liling appears to provide extra details but Gallimard protests because he wants a pure love story, not the sordid details. Song Liling is getting instructions from “her” Communist Chinese handler. “She” is permitted to be with Gallimard and wear decadent Western clothing as long as she gets political secrets from him.

Throughout it all, including the sexual encounters, Gallimard claims that he never knew that Song Liling was a man. He never saw him naked. (Song Liling proves his manhood to the entire audience at the trial and in the theater and even gives explicit description of their sexual encounters.) How could he not know? Did he want to know?

Owen, a sexy macho actor, gives a fine performance as the awkward insecure Gallimard, slightly stooped over. He’s insecure and sexually confused himself. Owen projects new-found confidence through his posture and his voice once he begins the affair. As Song Liling, Jin Ha has a beautiful sultry voice and sounds feminine. However, he has a severe jaw line and appears too masculine despite his costumes.

M Butterfly deals with US imperialism in the 80’s and Song Liling is upfront and explicit in “her” criticisms about the West and that the West feels it is superior to the east. The play, rings true in today’s world.

Directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King,) the show features settings with a series of panels, the most appealing being the ones that serve as the backdrop of the Chinese Opera. The musical numbers, particularly one designed to show the effect of the Chinese Revolution, go on much too long and aren’t really necessary at all.

Based upon a true story, M Butterfly is about the desire to be loved and idealizing a lover who reveres you above others. They say that politics makes strange bedfellows. Add sex and it can’t lead to a happy ending.