“How could this be?” asks director Michael Thomas, “That’s the question that drew me into this play, and it’s the question that brings everyone into it. As the premise for a play this is interesting enough—but it is based on a true story. So this play is intriguing from the first moment, and that question carries us through the whole show: how could this be?”
The play is "M. Butterfly" by David Henry Hwang, a 1988 Tony Award winner that became a contemporary American classic. The HSU Department of Theatre, Film & Dance will present its production in the Van Duzer Theatre for two weekends, Oct. 14-16 and 21-24.
When we meet the diplomat Rene Gallimard, his folly has been exposed. He is now “a celebrity. You see, I make people laugh,” he says. He offers this observation from his jail cell.
The rest of this fast-paced and frequently witty drama addresses that key question—How could this be?—as well as others: How did Gallimard wind up in prison? Why did the man he knew as the bewitching Song Liling encourage this relationship, as Gallimard rose through the diplomatic ranks while posted in China? And why did Song Liling resume the relationship in Paris after his own world came crashing down?
With references to Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly,” this play explores issues of imperialism, gender and race, in a swirl of color and music. It dramatizes the effects of cultural myths and stereotypes on personal emotions, and the impact of those emotions on politics and even war.
In the HSU production, veteran local actor Lincoln Mitchell plays Rene Gallimard. HSU student Kyle Ryan plays Song Liling. “Kyle is a dancer as well as an actor,” said director Thomas, “and he moves beautifully, which is very important in this role.”
Situations are complicated further by Gallimard’s wife (played by Chelsea Snyder) and mistress (Eva Rismanforoush), as well as representatives of the Chinese government(Denise Truong) and the French bureaucracy (Matt Kirchberg.) International politics as well as personal fantasies mean that both Gallimard and Song Liling have reasons to keep the illusion alive.
Michael Thomas, a director, actor, teacher and Managing Artistic Director of the North Coast Repertory Theatre, proposed M. Butterfly for his directorial debut at HSU. “It’s beautifully constructed with short scenes that flow into each other. There’s humor, too. This play has so many layers.”
M. Butterfly also presents entertainment for the senses. “There’s some music from Madame Butterfly, and some dancing from Chinese opera,” Thomas said. “Because of the setting that’s enhanced by Gallimard’s fantasies, we can create some beautiful images on stage.”
Meanwhile, the “how could this be?” question continues to suggest others throughout the play. Is fantasy the ultimate disguise? Or the ultimate identity? Theatregoers may leave this play discussing these questions, among many others.
“If a play gives us some juicy things to think about, to ponder, and perhaps change us a bit,” Thomas said, “then that’s a wonderful and successful evening of theatre. I think this play does that.”
But because of adult themes and two scenes involving nudity, Thomas suggests “I see this play as suitable for high school age and older.”
M. Butterfly is presented Thursdays through Saturdays Oct. 14-16, 21-23 at 7:30 pm, with a Sunday matinee on Oct. 24 at 2pm, in the Van Duzer Theatre on the HSU campus in Arcata. $10/$8, with limited number of free seats to HSU students at each performance, from the HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Adult content, nudity. http://HSUStage.blogspot.com.