Custom Made Theatre Presents M. BUTTERFLY 3/18-4/16

Can love be so blinding that we see only what we want to see in the object of our obsession, choosing illusion over reality? And is the distortion between East and West so seductive that even gender can be blurred by our desires?

Twenty-five years ago, David Henry Hwang heard of a newspaper report about a French diplomat who carried on a two decades' long affair with a Chinese opera singer, who turned out to be both a man and a spy. From this simple story, he weaved a modern classic that wonders how such an event could happen. How could this Western man be so blinded by love (or was it obsession?) that he would willingly give away state secrets, and not even know the sex of his partner? What is it in all of us that thinks of the people of Asia as submissive, feminine, and in awe of the Western world?

Hwang's tale is as relevant as when first written, perhaps even more so as the Western world attempts to understand the rise of modern China. As our new realities take hold, with China poised to be the largest economy in the world in as little as 20 years, what illusions do we still live under?

This dynamic new staging by Stuart Bousel (Ruth and the Sea, The Giant Bones) emphasizes a more timeless aesthetic for the show than the iconic Broadway production, concentrating less on the historical elements of the story and more on the universal themes of obsession, deception, delusion and vanity. Though race and politics still play their part, they will be presented as a facet of the core problem that, when it comes to love, we often see what we want to see rather than see the truth about the object of our affection.

While, as is in the traditional staging of the play, Rene and Song will be played by one actor, the supporting characters will form a chorus, emphasizing Song and Gallimard's unique roles as both protagonists and competing narrators (and unreliable ones at that) while emphasizing their alienation from the rest of the world.

Sarah Phykitt's (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell) stark, elegant set and Jen Polka's (The Giant Bones) minimalistic costumes will emphasize the Chinese design of reds and blacks, which will work to bring out the plays' meta-theatricality in director Bousel's staging.

Custom Made is thrilled to present this new look at a modern classic.

WHO:

Directed by Stuart Bousel; Set Design by Sarah Phykitt*; Costume Design by Jen Pokas; Lighting Design by Brendan Aanes; Sound Design by Dan Brandon; Props by Shay Henley*; Dramaturgy by Perry Aliado*; Stage Management by Carrie Barnes.

With: Xanadu Bruggers, Sean Fenton, Rik Lopes, Kai Morrison, Karen Offereins, Kira Shaw, and Paul Stout.

*Denotes Custom Made company member.

WHERE:

The Gough Street Playhouse (formerly The Next Stage), attached to the historic Trinity Church, 1620 Gough Street (at Bush), San Francisco

DATES / TIMES / TICKET INFO:

Previews March 18 - 19 (8pm); Opens Tuesday, March 22 (8pm); Runs March 24 - April 16; Thurs.-Sat. 8pm; Special Sunday showings April 3 and 10, 7pm

Ticket Price Range: $20-$28; Previews $10-$20

TICKET INFORMATION:

For tickets go to CustomMade.org/tickets . Questions can be answered at info@custommade.org or by calling 510.207.5774

The Custom Made Theatre Company, its 12th season of high-quality theatrical productions, is the managing company of the Gough Street Playhouse (formerly the Next Stage). Custom Made's mission is to produce plays that awaken our social conscience, focusing on the strength of the ensemble and creating an intimate theatrical experience.

 

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