- RS Francisco will reprise his epic portrayal of Song Liling in ‘M. Butterfly.’
- ‘M. Butterfly’ will be presented by Tony and Grammy award-winning producer Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment.
- French actor Oliver Borten shall essay the role of Rene Gallimard.
- A list of distinguished actors and actresses will also join the cast.
‘M. Butterfly,’ a classic masterpiece drama inspired by Giaccomo Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly”, is loosely based on events surrounding a 1986 espionage trial about a mysterious Chinese opera singer and a French diplomat.
The story is about René Gallimard, a member of the French embassy in China. René is mild mannered and considers himself to be poor with women. He meets and falls in love with Chinese opera star Song Liling, a woman whom he considers to be the embodiment of the perfect woman, Madame Butterfly. But things are not what they seem….
RS Francisco as Song Liling
In this year’s version, RS Francisco shall reprise his epic portrayal of Song Liling, the Chinese opera singer who is Gallimard’s object of affection and seduces him through his biases of the East then exploits their intimacy to collect classified information for agents of the Chinese Communist Party.
In May 1990, RS Francisco essayed this role for Dulaang UP opposite veteran actor, writer and critic Behn Cervantes to critical acclaim and box office success. Extended runs played to full house theater audiences and tours in key cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao marked this poignant drama’s run in Philippine theater history.
In the many years thereafter, RS Francisco’s theater credits in numerous productions and a variety of roles continued to hone his craft as a compleat artist. In films, his most recent awards include the Sinag Maynila Best Actor, the Star Awards Movie Actor of the Year and the Subic Bay International Film Festival Best Actor. When the play was revived recently on Broadway, RS had thought of bringing it to life once again to the new theater audiences of today. After all, this is the only ‘one’ role that continues to remain closest to his heart.
French actor Oliver Borten shall essay the role of Rene Gallimard, a former French diplomat, who relates the story of his passionate, disastrous affair with Song Liling from his cell in a Paris prison, where he is serving a long sentence for treason.
‘M. Butterfly’ will be directed by award-winning Kanakan-Balintagos, and will be presented by Tony and Grammy award-winning producer Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment (producer of highly-acclaimed independent films Bhoy Intsik and Bwaya).
Meet the Actors and Their Roles
The highly-regarded theater actress Pinky Amador who was seen internationally in Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Miss Saigon’ and in a long list of plays, movies and television shows will portray Gallimard’s wife – Helga. The pair married as a matter of convenience; Helga’s father had diplomatic connections that helped Gallimard ascend in his career.
After 25 years of stage acting experience in the United Kingdom, Scottish Norm McLeod steps in the Philippine stage as Manuel Toulon, the French Ambassador to China who also happens to be the dominant and strong-willed superior of Gallimard at the embassy in Beijing. Toulon promotes Gallimard to vice-consul and charges him with collecting information to aid the American war in Vietnam. Trilingual American actor Lee O’brian will personify Marc, the sexually unapologetic best friend of Gallimard. He encourages Gallimard to take sexual advantage of the women around him without regard for their feelings or even their consent. Although this will be the first theater experience for the actor, Lee’s skills have been tried and tested in international films “Edsa Woolworth” and “Forgive Me Father”. O’Brian will also briefly portray Sharpless in ‘M. Butterfly.’
Playing the role of both Suzuki and Comrade Chin is the remarkable stage, movie and television actress Mayen Estanero. Comrade Chin is a member of the Red Guards, a paramilitary arm of the Communist Party in China. Song communicates with Comrade Chin often, to pass on the classified information he gathers from Gallimard. Having her share of the spotlight for more than 15 years already, receiving accolades from her recent performances as Maestra in Dalanghita Production’s “Corazon Negro, An Operatta”, as Leila at Virgin Labfest’s “Mula Sa Kulimlim” and as Asawa at Sugid Production’s “Buwan at Baril”, Mayen is set to stun audiences as she portrays her two roles with full authenticity.
Two-time ALIW Awards Finalist Maya Encila will be adding pizazz to this rendition of ‘M. Butterfly’ with her unique personification of bombshell Renee – a young, sexually liberated Danish woman with whom Gallimard has an affair. Renee’s boldness presents a stark contrast to Song’s modesty, which Gallimard finds both exciting and obnoxious. A true expert in acting, singing and dancing, Maya has taken the stage countless times as Mary Lennox for “The Secret Garden”, as Belle for Repertory Philippines’ “Beauty and the Beast” musical and as Lara for Philippine Stagers’ “KATIPS”, to name a few.
Added cast Rica Nepumuceno will be performing live as an Opera Singer.
The members of the ensemble playing the role of Kurogo are as follows: John Paul Ortenero, Pheith Iena Ballug, Kay Megan Kierluf, Aira Jay Igarta and Ullyses Basa.
The Artistic Team
The artistic team of ‘M. Butterfly’ is formed by the following: Kanakan-Balintagos (Direction), Jhett Tolentino and RS Francisco (Producers), Ohm David (Set), Eric Pineda (Costume), John Batalla (Lighting), Jethro Joaquin (Sound) Joed Balsamo (Music) and Carissa Adea (Choreography).
Play Dates
‘M. Butterfly’ will play at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City, on the following dates:
Sept. 13 – Thursday – Gala Opening Night – 7:30 pm (By invitation only)
Sept. 14 – Friday – 8 pm
Sept. 15 – Saturday – 3 pm / 8 pm
Sept. 16 – Sunday – 3 pm / 8 pm
Sept. 18 – Tuesday – 8 pm
Sept. 19 – Wednesday – 8 pm
Sept. 20 – Thursday – 8 pm
Sept. 21 – Friday – 8 pm
Sept. 22 – Saturday – 3 pm / 8 pm
Sept. 23 – Sunday – 3 pm / 8 pm
Sept. 25 – Tuesday – 8 pm
Sept. 27 – Thursday – 8 pm
Sept. 28 – Friday – 8 pm
Sept. 29 – Saturday – 3 pm / 8 pm
Sept. 30 – Sunday – 3 pm / 8 pm
This re-staging of ‘M. Butterfly’ will be 100% non-profit. Net proceeds from each performance will be dedicated to ONE particular charitable institution or organization geared toward education and the arts.
Among the 20 beneficiaries are: Hope for Change – funds the full education (from elementary to college) of children in Tondo; Love Yourself Foundation – cultivates HIV awareness; Habitat for Humanity – provides decent housing to less privileged Filipino families; Love Is All We Need – an LGBT rights movement pushing for the SOGIE Equality Bill; Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) – organization that fights for animal rights; Environmental Legal Assistance (ELAC) – an environmental NGO which addresses the leading social causes of environmental degradation; Trip to Quiapo – scriptwriting workshop by multi-awarded Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist and playwright Ricky Lee..
The ticket prices are as follows:
Zone 1: P2,000
Zone 2: P1,750
Zone 3: P1,500
Zone 4: P1,250
Zone 5: P1,000
For tickets, call TICKETWORLD at 8919999
The Chrysalis
In line with the showing of M. Butterfly, guests can see and experience the “Perfect Woman” up close in the Chrysalis photo exhibit through the magical lenses of the “Magnificent 7”. Featuring the work of the country’s most notable photographers and marvelous costume pieces by Eric Pineda, the Chrysalis is a convergence among 7 prominent names in photography.
