Who is Madame Butterfly ? | M.Butterfly National Tour 2019

I've heared the term 'Madame Butterfly' before in the context of someone being a 'lady of the night' or someone who is mysterious and alluring but I didn't really know its origins.

First published as a novel it has been revived, re-imagined, redone and has served as general inspiration for other novels, movies, operas and plays like Miss Saigon and David Henry Hwang’s M.Butterly

And now because of Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment , Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Baguio will have the pleasure of experiencing the three time Tony Award winning dramatic and moving spectacle for Best Play, Best Feature Actor and Best Director.


Synopsis: René Gallimard is 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 when West meets East, everything is not what it seems…. #Frontrow #MButterfly


The M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019 was made to bring the world-class masterpiece to those who did not have the opportunity to catch its 2018 Manila run. After all, location should not limit one’s exposure to the arts and culture.

Photo by Raymond Isaac | image from whatishappening.com


I really want to see this as I find the plot extremely interesting and paints a look at how westerners/europeans view people in the asian regions during those time (dare I say even now). Also the fact that *spoiler* the leading man falls in love with a man in drag, as most plays during that time are played by an all male cast.


Cast of M.Butterfly

Rs Francisco - Song Liling
Aira Igarta - Song Liling (Alternate)
Olivier Borten - Rene Gallimard
Jenine Desiderio - Helga Gallimard
Norm Mcleod - Manuel Toulon
Lee O’brian - Marc (Rene's Bestfriend)
Mayen Estañero - Suzuki, Comrade Chin and Shu Fang
Maya Encila - Renee
Jasmin Salvo - Opera Singer
Pheith Iena Ballug, Ullyses Basa, Sasa Cabalquinto, Franco Ferrer and John Paul Ortenero - Kurugo

The artistic team of M. Butterfly are as follows: 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).


M.Butterfly National Tour Beneficiaries


The M. BUTTERFLY NATIONAL TOUR 2019 will benefit 10 charitable institutions namely: Iloilo Prima Galaw, Philippine National Red Cross Iloilo Chapter, The Children of Cebu Foundation, Silliman University Culture and Arts Council, the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Love the Children Foundation, House of Hope Foundation, Halfway Home for the Boys and St. Louis University Culture and Arts Center.

Playdates

ILOILO CITY
VENUE: SM City Iloilo Cinema 6
Feb. 14 – Thursday – Opening Night – 7pm
Feb. 15 – Friday – 2pm / 7pm
Feb. 16 – Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Feb. 17 – Sunday – 2pm / 7pm

DUMAGUETE CITY
VENUE: Luce Auditorium, Silliman University
Feb. 28 – Thursday – Opening Night – 7pm
Mar. 01 – Friday – 7pm
Mar. 02 – Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 03 – Sunday – 2pm / 7pm

CEBU CITY
VENUE : SM Seaside City Centerstage
Mar. 14 – Thursday – Opening Night – 7pm
Mar. 15 – Friday – 7pm
Mar. 16 – Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 17 – Sunday – 2pm / 7pm

DAVAO CITY
VENUE: SM Lanang Premier Cinema 6
Mar. 28 – Thursday – Opening Night – 7pm
Mar. 29 – Friday – 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 30 – Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 31 – Sunday – 2pm / 7pm

MANILA
VENUE: Maybank Performing Arts Theater
May 8 – Wednesday – Opening Night – 8pm
May 9- Thursday – 8pm
May 10 – Friday – 8pm
May 11 – Saturday – 2pm / 8pm
May 12 – Sunday – 2pm / 8pm
May 15 – Wednesday – 8pm
May 16 – Thursday – 8pm
May 17 – Friday – 8pm
May 18 – Saturday – 2pm / 8pm
May 19 – Sunday – 2pm / 8pm

BAGUIO CITY
VENUE: St. Louis University
May 30 – Thursday – Opening Night 7pm
May 31 – Friday – 7pm
Jun. 1 – Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Jun. 2 – Sunday – 2pm / 7pm


Ticket merchants

ILOILO, DAVAO, CEBU, BAGUIO – SM Tickets at any SM Mall nationwide or online at SMTickets.com

DUMAGUETE – Culture and Arts Council Office, Silliman University through contact nos. (035) 422-4365, (0917) 300-0346, (0999) 797-7825

MANILA – TicketWorld through contact no. (02) 891-9999 or ticketworld.com
The ticket prices vary per city between P500 to P2,000 plus taxes and fees.

Socials

Facebook: /MButterflyPH
Twitter: @MButterflyPH
Instagram:@MButterflyPH
YouTube: MButterflyPH
For further inquiries, please contact JHETT TOLENTINO at (0906) 576-6914.

References 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Butterfly_(short_story)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Butterfly_(play)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Butterfly

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