{"id":176490,"date":"2026-02-13T12:34:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/176490\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T12:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:34:21","slug":"m-butterfly-at-sf-playhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/176490\/","title":{"rendered":"M. BUTTERFLY at SF Playhouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ud83c\udfad NEW! San Francisco Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n

\n Get all the top news & discounts for San Francisco & beyond.\n <\/p>\n

M Butterfly<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad NEW! San Francisco Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n

\n Get all the top news & discounts for San Francisco & beyond.\n <\/p>\n

By David Henry Hwang<\/p>\n

Directed Bridgette Loriaux<\/p>\n

SF Playhouse<\/p>\n

When it premiered back in 1988 its blurring the lines of male and female roles seemed shocking and even implausible. Based on the real-life story of Bernard Bouriscot, a low-level French foreign service worker who began a decade long sexual relationship with a playwright and former actor, Shi Pei Pu, who was a man posing as a woman. Today, when transgender biases flood the political and social landscape, M Butterfly may seem less daring but is still compelling drama wonderfully executed.<\/p>\n

\"Review:
\nEdric Young is Butterfly. <\/p>\n

Once you believe the conceit of French diplomat Rene Gallimard\u2019s believing Song Liling is a woman, the play centers more on East versus West perspectives on sexual roles, gender identity, and cross-cultural politics. Award-winning actor Dean Linnard stars as the hapless loser, egged on by his macho friend Marc (Andre Amarotico) to assume the Western imperialist aspects of dominant masculine power players with a right to master submissive, obedient Asian women.<\/p>\n

\"Review:
\nStacy Ross (M. Toulon) and Dean Linnard (Rene Gallimard) <\/p>\n

Edric Young\u2019s Liling is unquestionably devoted to Rene, fully understanding his psyche and playing on it to manipulate him into committing espionage. He\u2019s not too concerned with embodying a real woman than with fulfilling Gallimard\u2019s fantasy of the demure flower-like Oriental. As she says, \u201cOnly a man knows how a woman is supposed to act.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Review:
\nAndre Amarotico (Marc) and Dean Linnard (Rene Gallimard). <\/p>\n

Bridgette Loriaux\u2019s direction is impeccable. Act One has some stunning visuals enhanced by Randy Wong-Westbrooke\u2019s set and Michael Oesch\u2019s delicate lighting. Stacy Ross as Gallimard\u2019s boss and Andre Amarotico as the lascivious Marc deliver standout supporting performances. M Butterfly plays heavily on illusion, fantasy, and desires- which are powerful motivators that put Gallimard at risk and eventual doom. Mirroring the story of Puccini\u2019s opera Madama Butterfly, Rene relates the opera\u2019s story of betrayal and abandonment while committing the same offenses. When confronted with his folly, Rene cannot accept reality of the male Liling and opts for delusion and fantasy. It\u2019s a tragedy of deception that Linnard, in a bravura performance, makes even more tragic by his unblinding belief.<\/p>\n

M Butterfly runs through March 14th. Tickets can be purchased at 415-677-9596 or online at sfplayhouse.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Jessica Palopoli<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Reader Reviews<\/p>\n

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