Clive Owen to Star in Taymor's M. BUTTERFLY Revival- Page 2

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 2:28pm

Gaveston -

Good call. I am not hugely familiar with the text - I just remember reading it in college and being blown away, and I have seen it on stage only once many years ago.

Maybe they'll give Clive Owen a dorky haircut and glasses? lol.

BTW, this seems like a good play for Taymor to direct. It's supposed to be theatrical and requires more of a Julie Taymor-style director than the kind of director who is basically a glorified acting coach.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 6:20pm

No problem, Baritone. Posters here have to correct my memory all the time. In the case of MB, I saw the Broadway production with both Lithgow and John Rubenstein. And then I taught the play to college freshmen and women for 14 years.

IIRC, the spectacle was added by John Dexter. With the exception of Song's performing the suicide scene from Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY (the scene where Song and Gallimard meet), I barely remember the other "Asian performances" that marked scene changes, probably because they had nothing in particular to do with the story.

But Dexter kept the plot clear even amidst the spectacle. We'll see if Taymor can do the same.

I certainly agree that something besides an "acting coach" is required. The play is highly influenced by Brecht, yet it isn't precisely Brechtian in execution. Somebody has to recognize that and allow empathy along with the moments of estrangement.

[99pandas]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 12:34pm

Any news on this? When can we expect tickets to go on sale? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 1:03pm

They just posted a casting notice looking for male and female dancers... hm...

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 7:03pm

OLD TIMES was so awful. Hope this works so I can forget his last appearance.