“M. Butterfly” at The Ledge Theater

Based on a true international news story that broke out in 1986, M Butterfly concerns Rene Gallimard, a diplomat to China who was accused of espionage by the French Government. The lead witness against him is his Chinese Opera singer wife of 20 years who he later finds out is a man.

M. Butterfly won the 1988 Tony Award for best play and was subsequently made into a major motion picture. The drama explores how cultural and sexual stereotypes are mercilessly exploited and the West's delusional and imperialistic attitudes towards the East.