Marianne CombsThe Guthrie Theater is about to stage “M. Butterfly” by playwright David Henry Hwang. But evidently quite a few people think the Guthrie is staging the opera “Madame Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini. In an effort to clear up the confusion, the theater’s PR office has put out a handy dandy reference sheet for journalists. I thought you might find it useful, too.
| Title | M. Butterfly | Madame Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Author | David Henry Hwang, Chinese-American playwright | Giacomo Puccini, Italian composer |
| First Premiered | On Broadway in 1988 | At La Scala in 1904 |
| Genre | Play | Opera |
| Is it a Musical? | No | No, it’s an opera. |
| Does it Contain Music? | Puccini’s opera is referenced in the play and some of the music from it is heard. | Yes, it’s an opera. |
| Setting | China and France | Japan |
| Main Characters | French diplomat Rene Gallimard and Chinese opera performer Song Liling | U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton and Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San |
| What Does the Title Refer To? | M. is the French abbreviation for Monsieur | Cio-Cio-San is also known as Butterfly |
| Inspiration for the Story | Inspired by the strange but true story of a French diplomat accused in 1986 of giving secrets to his Chinese lover. Although they were together for nearly 20 years, the diplomat claimed he did not know his lover was a spy. Or a man. | Based on the short story “Madame Butterfly” (1898) and the novel “Madame Chrysanthème”(1887) |
| Is There Nudity? | Yes | No |
| Where Can I See It? | At the Guthrie from April 17 through June 6 | Not at the Guthrie. Ever. |
