Today in Literature
March 20, 2009
20 March 1988: David Henry Hwang’s play M. Butterfly premiered in New York City at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. The original case featured John Lithgow as Gallimard and B.D. Wong in the role of Song Liling. The play is a contemporary adaptation of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly (my mother’s favorite).
Hwang gives his audience a unique exploration of Orientalism, masculinity, sexuality, and politics that is no less powerful more than twenty years after its debut.
Additionally, today is the first day of Spring.
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Am I correct in thinking that Weezer’s Pinkerton album is based off of this play? I feel like I’m right… but I may just be confusing it with another.
After a quick perusal of wikipedia, I learned that you’re right! I had no idea. Perhaps this is how I can get my mom to listen to Weezer–a decade too late.
Wonderful! If I was to have my mom try to listen to Weezer, we’d have to start out with Buddy Holly – only because she would recognize the names Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore. After that, I think I’d hit her with The Greatest Man That Ever Lived and try to convince her that since it is based on an old Quaker hymn, that the song is also about Jesus… sung in first person… by Jesus.
Hello,
We video taped an interview with David Henry Hwang during his sojourn to Singapore recently and are requesting permission to include the above photo in the edited interview.
The interview will be aired on Channel NewsAsia as part of a series called Signature (conversations).
Photographer and the institution will of course be credited.
Awaiting your reply,
Best regards
Michel Cayla
Producer
gsmprjct média pte ltd