Just got back from seeing "M Butterfly" at
Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. To think that it premiered in 1988 and gave the
talented B. D. Wong the opportunity to earn a Tony award for best actor. I can
imagine then its subject matter was far more risqué than it feels today. It's a
quirky show told to the audience by the leads with flashbacks and imagined
moments spanning nearly 3 decades. The lead of the French Diplomat; whose story
this really is, was played by Everyman repertory company actor, Bruce Randolph
Nelson. He was wonderful in the role, and having seen him in various roles last
year, I was particularly pleased that he came to the stage with a freshness and
authenticity unique to the role of Rene Gallimard. The role of Song Lili
(a.k.a. Butterfly) was a regional debut for actor Vichet Chum, whose resume has
him acting his way to the east coast via Louisville, Minneapolis, and St.
Louis! In this role of the diplomat's lover, Vichet was most convincing and
fearless in the role's more revealing moments. The rest of the company was
likewise well cast and the rolls well performed. The stage itself was
tranformed into a giant butterfly under the design concept of Yu-Hsuan Chen. A
butterfly whose one set of wings forms the stage floor, while the other pair of
wings provides the outline of the opening in the lattice that divides the
background from the foreground on the stage. I would highly recommend this
production; however, tonight's performance is its last.
