Reviews

M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang

yumizsoiu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

haileyb1's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

vklopez's review against another edition

5.0

every time i hear someone use the word “Oriental” completely straightfaced i want to chuck a copy of this play at their head

curlieq's review against another edition

5.0

I was doubtful of this play at first but the more I read the more hooked I got. I love the way it was written and I found the ending quite beautiful. Theatrical, dramatic, this play used a known story and with that Hwang created something so rich and intriguing here.

kstonge42's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

imogenrobinson__'s review against another edition

funny informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

A beautiful, thought-provoking and very clever play entwined with the opera of Madama Butterfly. Perfectly critiques Orientalist stereotypes. 

I wish I'd gotten the chance to see it performed.

kittkat's review against another edition

funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

CELLS Lektüre

Sehr… interessant. Hätte ich zwar nicht in meiner Freizeit gelesen, aber das Drama hat mich dann doch gefesselt. 

In true drama fashion sprechen unsere Figuren die sehr ernsten und wichtigen Themen auf völlig absurde Art und Weise an. Manchmal war ich mir nicht sicher, ob die Story grad rassistisch und/ oder homophob wurde, aber im Endeffekt war die Antwort die ganze Zeit: ja. Rassismus, Homosexualität, Fetischismus, Kolonialismus, rape mentality usw. sind hier alle ein Thema. 

Das allerbeste an der ganzen Sache? Es basiert auf einer wahren Geschichte, nämlich: Französischer Diplomat wurde wegen Spionage in 1986 zu 6 Jahre Gefängnis verurteilt. Spionage inwiefern? Er hatte eine 20 Jahre lange Affäre mit einer chinesischen Sängerin, die eigentlich ein Mann war (was ihm nicht bekannt war) und dieser hat Infos vom Franzosen an die kommunistische Partei weitergegeben. Wild. 

Zum Schluss eine Weisheit von Monsieur Gallimard: 

„When a woman calls a man her ‚friend‘ she‘s calling him a homosexual.“

P. S. woah das sind viele trigger warnings…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Transphobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, War, and Suicide

Minor: Colonisation

kelz31's review against another edition

I enjoyed this story, though the long time frame was confusing and made it slightly harder to suspend disbelief. Would love to see this produced

hkmillie's review against another edition

5.0

Heartbreaking and beautiful.

jilianluk's review against another edition

funny informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

2.0