Posted on: Friday, March 2, 2007
HOT soars with 'Butterfly'
Advertiser Staff
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl in a big way.
Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" is one of the most recognizable operas, its universal and tragic love story repeated in productions such as the musical "Miss Saigon" and even given unexpected twists in the Broadway drama "M. Butterfly."
It's the final production of the season for the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Details:
When, where and how much? 8 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Thursday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tonight's and Sunday's shows are sold out; Tuesday's remaining seats are $85 and $120; Thursday's, $42 to $120.
Who's who: Shu Ying Li is Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly); Kip Wilborn is Lt. Pinkerton of the U.S. Navy. HOT executive director Karen Tiller directs.
The story: In Nagasaki, the geisha Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton marry — she taking the connection more seriously than he. Pinkerton soon leaves for America, and she longs for his return. When he does, he brings his new American wife, breaking Cio-Cio-San's heart.
The look: Internationally acclaimed artist Jun Kaneko, whose works are prominent at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and in front of the Waikiki Aquarium, designed the set and costumes for this production, which originally was commissioned by Opera Omaha. Kaneko lives in Omaha and on Kaua'i.
Information and tickets: http://hawaiiopera.org, 596-7858.
