M. BUTTERFLY Previews- Page 2

[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.

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 11:21pm

I saw this tonight and completely agree with what everyone has said. There are two very good central performances Jin Ha (who i was very impressed with and really kept me engaged with the play) and Clive Owen. 

The staging is such a let down. I thought Julia Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream was really magical and thought this seemed like a good fit for her. As everyone has mentioned this "low-tech" staging is clunky and incredible distracting. At one moment tonight Clive Owen had to shove one of the panels off stage forcefully...and it was awkward. When your star is moving scenery and it doesn't look good I think there is a problem. 

I found it hard to focus on the play because there was always a stagehand running on or off stage moving something or a panel sliding (or not) into place. As it has been mentioned when the pieces don't make symmetry, it just seems sloppy. I'm sure some of this will be tightened during the preview period, but I can't imagine that it is ever seamless. 

The worst thing I can say is that these panels are often just plane ugly. The grey on grey early on was hideous.

Luckily I found much to enjoy from the performances and I mostly enjoyed the play itself. I did't like the meta references, but was engaged with the central story. I found the final scene to be powerful and kept thinking that if another director had gotten their hands on this it could have been really thrilling theater. Until then I'll be dreaming of panels sliding in and out.  

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 10/8/17 at 11:27pm

Maybe it's still a work in progress?

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 12:29am

GavestonPS, It's not the testimony Song gives in the court that's we'll stage (the staging of that looks rather high schoolish actually), its the one that he gives to the chineese government before being sent to the labor camp. 

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 1:02am

I was there this evening and although I thought the direction was problematic I really enjoyed it. I thought the performances overall were very good and Clive Owen was a real stand out. 

I happened to get a rush seat in the front row right next to the script assistant for the production and when I asked her how much rewriting had been done on this production she said 15-20% which I thought was really interesting and a little high. I would like to return to see if Taymor is able to further hone her ideas and seeing where Owen's performance grows. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 3:54am

Most of what everyone said already is true. GavestonPS, you are definitely correct that I walked into the play for the wrong reason. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

The play is amazingly written. Go see it just for that. I came away thinking about lots of things... gender, race, class, diplomacy, sense of identity and self, and who knows what else? It’s gorgeous. 

The production is technically sloppy, but can improve over time.  Julie, find a way to put some seams between those flats so we don’t see everyone walking behind them, it’s absurdly distracting and interrupted many emotional moments. 

I’m surprised to see such acclaim for Clive Owen. I thought he was trying to play a “straight man” in what is a complex, emotional role... that is oddly enough about a very straight man. He was too flat for me. I had a little trouble following what was happening at the ending... which would have been improved had a more nuanced actor been doing it.  I think he’s still getting his bearings on the audience and his performance will improve over time. Jin Ha was great.

I was completely unfamiliar with the show and had lots of feelings but left a little confused. Had this been handled better, I feel like I would have walked out blown away. I hope the production can reach the level that the play needs it to be... I want it to get there. 

Side note... if you hate Miss Saigon, you will love M. Butterfly. 

Updated On: 10/9/17 at 03:54 AM

[JBC3]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 4:41am

If my memory serves me right (and it may not) Taymor is a director who often makes more sweeping changes during the preview period than her colleagues. She really uses the time to figure out what is working and what is not, including scenery and other stage elements.

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 4:43am

^^Yes, that’s why I have hope. I only saw the second preview... this will only get tighter over time.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 7:54am

BroadwayBeebe, can you tell me about rush policy? I don't see one listed online anywhere.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 9:32am

When will someone say it: "Julie has no clothes." She is a lousy director who has no idea how to tell a coherent story on stage because she is so busy with pretty pictures. Unless you have seen the cartoon, Lion King is incomprehensible. Spiderman was even worse. Her movies make sense because she has an editor who is working overtime. If directors are supposed to tell a clear story, she fails miserably every time.

Updated On: 10/9/17 at 09:32 AM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 10:08am

I wouldn't go quite that far, though I will say the pretty pictures are usually her calling card. But in M. Butterfly even those are really scarce to be found.  I do hope she will (as someone above suggests) heavily revise her work on this during previews. The movement and figuration of the panels should be greatly simplified. They will never get them to line up at perfect right angles or in perfect straight lines so she should cut any such attempted moves right now, and just use them to lightly suggest divisions of space. 

It is true the militaristic grey color might be appropriate for a jail cell (and suggesting the oppression of communist China) but they are really quite unattractive.  Can't they spray them down with a silver sheen?

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 10:25am

TalkinLoud said: "BroadwayBeebe, can you tell me about rush policy? I don't see one listed online anywhere."

It was $35 and my seats were BB 2 and 4. I walked up at 5 after my matinee and was able to get them. I made a comment to her that the show said there was no rush and she laughed and said well I've got some. Front row and the stage height was only slightly above eye level. It was a really great seat. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 11:02am

The panels did have a bit of a metallic sheen when I saw it on Sunday — looked similar to the metal panels in the rear of the stage. 

[BJR]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 11:23am

Some of y'all forget it's previews. Both that the design is not likely to change but the execution will unquestionably improve.

[pnewelljr]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 12:48pm

I saw this last night as well.

I have had no exposure to the play in the past, and actually only saw Miss Saigon for the first time this past spring (the current revival). I originally became interested in seeing this due to how much I enjoyed MS. All that being said, this play (the material) definitely exceeded my expectations (which is particularly impressive given the fact that I went in knowing it won the Tony for best play).

I'll start by agreeing (and then later disagreeing) with everyone about the set. The panels last night were extremely sloppy, even given the fact that it was a preview. They were a constant distraction, as were the set changes in general. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting given Taymor's involvement, but sloppy was not one of them.

That being said, I actually appreciated the concept as a whole, despite its flaws. If executed better it did (or could) enhance the feeling of this all being a memory. The ability to quickly shift from location to location and scene to scene in an almost dream-like fashion was something I found extremely unique. I understand what she was trying to do, the execution just fell flat.

After perusing Clive Owen's Wikipedia page during intermission, I realized that somehow I haven't seen a single film with him in it (i.e. I didn't have any particular expectations, if anything, the fact that he is a movie star made me more apprehensive). That being said, I thought overall he gave a very good (not exceptional) performance. I think with some tweaking and practice, there is a good chance he could get there by opening. Especially the ending scene, while still poignant, didn't feel sincere with his current performance.

Jin Ha, on the other hand, was exceptional. He was everything that part needed and more. I was shocked to see it is his Broadway debut, but I couldn't have been more impressed by his interpretation of Song Liling (acknowledging the fact that this is my first exposure to the material). His delivery of some of the more difficult and poignant scenes was very impactful, and I left feeling like I fully understood who this person was.

I appreciate that the writer added additional material given the changing nature of the source, it definitely felt like a fleshed out story with the right amount of detail. I thought overall it was a very good production that could turn into an extremely memorable one depending on what happens during previews. I look forward to revisiting after it opens.

Updated On: 10/9/17 at 12:48 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 2:05pm

"When will someone say it: "Julie has no clothes." She is a lousy director who has no idea how to tell a coherent story on stage because she is so busy with pretty pictures."

^this!

 I have always found Taymor to be great at visuals and a rather lousy actor director. She can make some stellar theatrical pictures but her story telling leaves a lot to be desired. She usually leaves people going "Wow! That was incredible!" but when you try to reason why she used that image, you are left scratching your head. "Well, I guess we will never understand the mind of a genius."

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 7:58pm

Having seen the original Broadway play with Lithgow and Wong and the West End production (in previews) with Anthony Hopkins.  The original set design took my breath away.  This play will always, for me, be one of the best plays I have ever seen.  Hwang's ability to take the story of "Madame Butterfly" and make it even more dramatic proved that the Tony Award for Best Play was very well deserved.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 11:37pm

I can understand that Taymor isn't great with storytelling. But this story has already proven to be incredible - Tony Award winning, etc. So it's not like she's creating a story from scratch - like Spiderman. I'm just curious, given the information here, how this is a $7+ million budget that has been talked about here? It doesn't seem like a big, splashy production? 

[goldenboy]

Posted: 10/9/17 at 11:50pm

The original set was so fascinating. I loved the look of that show.  And it was thrilling form beginnign to end. This staging sounds dreary in comparison. I was looking forward to seeing it again but I think I will live in the glorious memories of the originals.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 3:38am

I was hugely influenced by Dexter's original production and that huge sweeping slope in the design.  

It is an abiding memory, as is the performance by Anthony Hopkins.  I was really hoping this production would exceed that experience...

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 1:23pm

Can anyone comment on the view from the balcony for this show?

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 2:15pm

I was 5 rows back in the Mezzanine and had a great view. Not sure about the balcony.

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 2:24pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Can anyone comment on the view from the balcony for this show?"

I sat in the balcony and the view is great. I think the Court has one of the best Balcony's on Broadway. You feel very close still. I don't think  I missed anything being up there. I will say the legroom is tight so comfort isn't the best, but very good deal for the price. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 2:29pm

^ Thank you! I have been up in the balcony at the Cort before, and the view was fine, but I know each show has different sight-lines! I will pick up a balcony ticket soon for this!

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/10/17 at 6:25pm

dave1606 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "Can anyone comment on the view from the balcony for this show?"

I sat in the balcony and the view is great. I think the Cort has one of the best Balcony's on Broadway. You feel very close still. I don't think I missed anything being up there. I will say the legroom is tight so comfort isn't the best, but very good deal for the price."


I have been waiting to hear sightlines opinions before buying tickets. I always find it a struggle to hear performers at straight plays from balcony/rear mezz seats. Were their acoustics good?