Love, Espionage and Betrayal take center stage this October as Broadway welcomes the revival of M. Butterfly. The play was inspired by the story of French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Chinese opera star Shi Pei Pu, who posed as a woman to seduce Bouriscot into spying for the Chinese. The pair’s 20-year relationship inspired playwright David Henry Hwang, and they play’s 1988 debut garnered Tony Awards for actor B.D. Wong and director John Dexter, and made Hwang the first Asian American to win Best Play. The revival will be directed by Julie Taymor, and will feature Clive Owen as the diplomat. Hwang has also promised tantalizing new material based on information that has come to light since the play’s initial staging. mbutterflybroadway.com
Last modified: July 19, 2019