M. BUTTERFLY Previews

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/5/17 at 8:59am

Previews for the first Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly begin in just a few days (Saturday, October 7, 2017) at the Cort Theatre. With Julie Taymor at the helm, M. Butterfly stars Clive Owen (as Rene Gallimard) and Jin Ha (making his Broadway debut as Song Lilong), and is set to open officially on October 26 for a limited run currently through February 25, 2018.

Who's going?!

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 10/5/17 at 10:19am

BroadwayConcierge said: "Previews for the first Broadway revival of David Henry Hwang's M. Butterflybegin in just a few days (Saturday, October 7, 2017) at the Cort Theatre. With Julie Taymor at the helm, M. Butterfly stars Clive Owen (as Rene Gallimard) and Jin Ha (making his Broadway debut as Song Lilong), and is set to open officially on October 26 for a limited run currently through February 25, 2018.

Who's going?!"

I'm thinking about Sunday night. We'll see.

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/5/17 at 5:15pm

I'll be there on Sunday night. Only going because of Julie. We'll see what happens.

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 10/5/17 at 5:59pm

I think I will also get here on Sunday Night. Already going to be in for a matinee so might as well check this off my list as I really want to see it. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 1:53am

FYI, The cast is on a different contract, but they're basically signed for a few months after Clive leaves... wonder if they have anyone lined up? 

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 8:05am

RippedMan said: "FYI, The cast is on a different contract, but they're basically signed for a few months after Clive leaves... wonder if they have anyone lined up?"

Is Mr. Owen's run scheduled to end before the currently-indicated on-sale-through date (which I believe is sometime in January or February, according to Telecharge)?

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 9:07am

Lot666 said: "Is Mr. Owen's run scheduled to end before the currently-indicated on-sale-through date (which I believe is sometime in January or February, according to Telecharge)?"

Usually he would be doing all of the shows currently on sale, and if they extend, someone else would replace him for a new block of tickets.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 9:47am

haterobics said: "Usually he would be doing all of the shows currently on sale, and if they extend, someone else would replace him for a new block of tickets."

Thanks; that's what I figured, but wasn't sure whether this was a limited run with a definite closing date (e.g., Sunday in the Park), or if it could extend if successful.

[Jshan05]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 3:43pm

Really excited for this one-I'm planning on attending the performance next Saturday!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 6:45am

Previews start tonight. Will anyone be attending the first performance?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:30am

^RT. Anyone going tonight? I feel like a lot of people are opting for Band’s Visit’s first preview instead?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 6:48pm

I can’t believe I’m asking this, do they have a t shirt with that stunning design on it?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:17pm

 Caught the first preview tonight in a very last-minute ticket purchase. Simple verdict; good performances, disappointing staging. The design, which is a series of complicated, turning flat panels rotated and moved around by stagehands and cast members, I thought tonight was almost a disaster.  It felt very shaky and unassured.  No doubt this will get better as the show plays on, but I found the staging overall unnecessarily fussy and one dimensional. 

Clive Owen is especially good as Rene, and I thought Enid Graham was a real stand out in the role of Agnes, his wife. Jin Ha has some nice moments,  but honestly the entire production , including the performances, lacks the style and wit and dare I say it, even humor of John Dexter’s brilliant original production. Those going hoping to see some real coup de theater visuals from Julie Taymor may be disappointed.

It seemed to me to that the script is rather revised, and I’m not sure if for the better. I will have to re-read the original, though as it’s been a long time.

Updated On: 10/8/17 at 11:17 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:33pm

Have a friend working on the production and he said Julie wanted to go "back to old school theater" and not have automation, etc. Which, to me, sounds dreadful. I love stagecraft. But curious to see how this is.

[BroadwayLuv2]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:37pm

Did anyone attempt to see if there is a rush for this?  I don't believe the have a policy but curious if anyone stopped by the theater and tried? 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:37pm

I understand that in sentiment, but since they’re not automated the panels never lineup correctly and they’re not turning at the same time etc. It all looks very messy, and again it’s just not an elegant staging the way the original was. Very busy...

To the poster who asked, yes they do have several T-shirts with the logo on it including one that is the logo in sequins! 

[Damiensta]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:38pm

What was the running time of first preview?

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/7/17 at 11:52pm

The show started late and intermission ran long but each act timed out at about one hour each

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 1:05am

So I should preface this with: I am a massive Julie Taymor supporter and could not have been more excited to see this going into the evening. However, I agree with a lot of what the previous post said. Somehow Taymor has created a chaotic, sloppy production with 2 fairly good central performances.

The biggest issue right now is the set. It's made up of 20 something sets of panels that slide back and forth across the stage on tracks by actors and crew to make different locations. At times they were used effectively, but most of the time the slid around at random (often in the middle of scenes) and arrived at what looks like 90% of way to where they were supposed to land, looking haphazardly spread around the stage but you could tell where they were supposed to be. I seriously respect Taymor for going low tech with this production, but they need WAY more rehearsal time to get them to look presentable. And even then, I'm worried the panels would still look rather ugly.

The evening started strong, with an opening moment that felt like we were about to see an evening of Taymor at her best. The opening consisted of:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Renee is seen in a dreamlike state in his prison cell, made up of two of the the panels with semi reflective silver material on them, meeting at a 90 degree angel, 1 metal chair the Renee is asleep in, and a flickering lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. The lightbulb keeps dramatically surging out as he calls out for Song, flickering back on to reveal passage of time, ending in a butterfly (a puppet, of course. This is Miss Taymor after all) flying down from above circling the bulb, which throws us back into Renee's memories.

There are a handful of other well staged moments (The girl from the magazine, the street, Song's trial) but most of it is severely missing focus, which really hurts the play. I knew the play going in and I felt confused as to some of the finer details of the plot with all the focus missing here. I can't imagine what someone who didn't know the material at all thought was going on some of the time.

The real winner of the evening are the two lead actors. Especially Clive Owen, who delivers a magnetic, grounded, yet awkward Renee. I really was unimpressed with him in "Old Times" a few years ago, but he shows up here. The new actor playing Song (I don't have the playbill in front of me) is also very good, but he is missing the magic spark people talk about BD Wong having. There are definitely moments built into that script for him to do some old school scenery chewing with that he really isn't taking advantage of. Ironically, I remember Brantley writing about Taymor's work that "you should never go for the performances" 

Ultimately, I think they will figure their **** out, but it is going to take them all of the preview time they have to reign in this production. I have a feeling what they come out with will be worthwhile, and who knows, they may even really surprise us. Taymor could been seen in the back of the theater working with designers and not seeming anywhere near as manic or stressed as she's known to look, so I have a feeling she and her team will figure it out.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 7:50am

Queen Alice thanks for the info on the shirts , and of the course the review as well :) 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 8:59am

This morning I had a chance to read an article in the Playbill in which Taymor describes her concept for the scenery as being inspired by the moving panels of the bunraku theatre. This is all good and well, but if that is her conceptual springboard, she needs to rethink how they are used in this production.

Even (assuming the cast and crew are able to move the panels seamlessly) the way they are being used now creates a sense of awkward claustrophobia (particularly in the apartment scenes) rather than the epic sweep of imagination.  The staging needs to be much more open and fluid, in my opinion. I hope Taymore rethinks her configurations.

Jin Ha's performance reminds me of John Lone's in the film version: mysterious, aloof, delicate. B.D. Wong's portrayal had more charm and warmth and I thought he was more believable as a flesh and blood woman.

LA Theatreworks did a radio broadcast of the play with John Lithgow and B.D. Wong reprising their roles. It's well worth a listen.  And of course, the delightful clip from the 1988 Tony Awards is a must-see (back when they used to broadcast scenes from plays!)

And while we are on the subject of the original, I have to mention the work of the late, great Asian designer, Eiko Ishioka, whose costumes and scenery were absolutely breathtaking (and more "Julie Taymor like" than anything in this Julie Taymor production).

Here is a picture of the original set design...

 

Updated On: 10/8/17 at 08:59 AM

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 10:00am

Being a Julie Taymor fan is tough work.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 12:24pm

raddersons said: "I'll be there on Sunday night. Only going because of Julie. We'll see what happens."

I'm glad you and she are such good chums. But do you know the play? It's one of the greatest plays of the late 20th century. (Don't be misled by the dreadful movie.)

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 12:29pm

QueenAlice said: ...It seemed to me to that the script is rather revised, and I’m not sure if for the better. I will have to re-read the original, though as it’s been a long time."

If you find the time to reread the 1980s script, I'd love to hear the changes you note. As is probably obvious from my posts, I don't think the play needs any changes. I also have little memory of the "diversions" (my term) in between scenes (and I saw the original twice). I was so engrossed by the characters and story, I didn't need the bits of Beijing Opera, etc.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 12:37pm

Yes, indeed, thank you to Queen Alice for what you have already posted.

***

FutureDirector, is there a trial of Song that I've forgotten? The key scene is Song's testimony at Gallimard's trial, as I recall it. Is that what you mean? Easy to say one and mean the other.