Theater Review: 'M Butterfly' at Brookfield Theatre

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle and Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

“M Butterfly,” a play written by David Henry Hwang, has taken to the stage of Brookfield Theatre. The theater’s president Lou Okell directs this piece that reflects this year’s themes of “love and loss, deceit and redemption and finding love in surprising ways.” Performances continue through Oct. 4.

The play’s licensee indicates that “when ‘M. Butterfly’ premiered in 1988, its remarkable story of international espionage and personal betrayal solidified its status as a modern classic. Based on the real-life affair between a French diplomat and a mysterious Chinese opera singer in the 1960s, it blurred the boundaries between male and female, East and West.” The difficult to believe story is entwined with that of the opera “Madama Butterfly.”

In the 2017 Broadway Revival Version, “Hwang has incorporated new material inspired by details of the relationship that have emerged since the play first seduced audiences.” This reimagining “examines the nature of love and the devastating cost of deceit.”

Okell notes the character that Song Liling is based upon was intersex and was actually forced to strip in a French courtroom. The director points out that the playwright “takes this moment and turns it around so that it is a moment of triumph for Song Liling as well as a major turning point of the play.” Okell adds that much of the story also deals with the “misunderstandings between cultures,” a point that is important to keep in mind as the action unfolds in this 2017 Broadway revival version of this script.

The director credits the work of her exceptional cast for beautifully performing this story “so expertly crafted” by Hwang, adding that their performances are a challenge of endurance “as the show is both physically and emotionally demanding.” This is a strong group of performers that did not shy away from the heavy subject matter.

Miles Everett takes on the theatrical burden of the role of the civil servant René Gallimard. Everett is seldom off stage as he tells the story from Gallimard’s point of view and masters his extensive dialogue, delivering every word purposefully. At Brookfield Theatre, Everett has appeared as Felix in “The Normal Heart,” Claudius in “Hamlet,” and Rotchko in “Red.”

Todd Santa Maria bravely appears in the role of Song Liling, authentically portraying every aspect of this complicated character. Santa Maria makes it clear when Song Liling switches personas as he brings them to life in this show that he proposed to the director.

Ensemble member Aranka Vittarius returns to this stage to command the stage as the villain Comrade Chin, also playing Woman 4 and a server. Kristin Aug, who was part of “The Producers” in Brookfield, steps out of the ensemble to portray Gallimard’s wife Agnes and Woman 2. Rachel Ames, who appeared in the TheaterWorks short play festival, takes on the role of Renee and Woman 1 and Andrés Idrova Castillo did well as both Pinkerton and Marc in his third production in Brookfield.

College student and videographer Vincent Chistoni (“Camelot”) plays an agent, an actor, Man 3 and a clerk. Tony Benedetti, an actor often seen onstage at Phoenix Stage Company in Oakville, has a lot to do as Gallimard’s boss Toulon and Man 1. Rick Stewart (Baptiste in “A Flea in Her Ear”) covers the roles of Sharpless, Man 2, another ambassador and the French judges. Ensemble member Sandy Vallati portrays a pin up, Woman 3, and a servant in her Brookfield debut.

Rick Calvo, an actor who worked as a fashion design director for 18 years, consulted on costumes and makeup. Many of the period appropriate ensembles helped to set the scene, especially the beautifully embroidered Chinese opera costumes that moved gracefully. On the other hand, some of the pieces were not ready for the runway, with missed details that were somewhat distracting.

House Photographer Stephen Cihanek designed the lighting that included two backlit images, and WCSU graduate Annie Eckman took care of the simple and effective set decoration of the set designed by Andrew Okell (“Noises Off.”) I loved the projections designed by Lou Okell that truly helped to set the scenes. Okell was also in charge of sound design. Maggi Heilweil worked as the music consultant for the tracks needed for the opera scenes.

The strong choreography was brought together by the team of Stage Manager Pippa Walton, the fight and intimacy choreographer, and Neil Walton, the dance choreographer. The dancing is different in the two operas that are references and well-performed. Okell shares that the dancers brought their knowledge from various disciplines together to facilitate the resulting dances. The intimacy of the relationship between the two main characters is mostly tasteful, although I would caution parents to research the storyline before bringing young children.

Hwang’s stage work includes the play “Chinglish,” “Yellow Face,” and the Broadway musicals “Aida” and Disney’s “Tarzan.” He is a professor at Columbia University School of the Arts.

The play is presented with a ten-minute intermission between the second and third act. Content warning: “M Butterfly” includes nudity, prop guns, some language, and depictions of suicide. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.Tickets are $25 and $20 for students and seniors. BrookfieldTheatre.org

The final show of the season will be the romantic comedy musical “She Loves Me.” The 2026 season announcement is coming up in October.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, now owned by Hearst.