M. Butterfly is the most successful play written by playwright David Henry Hwang. It premiered on Broadway in 1988 to critical acclaim, was a finalist for the Pulitzer, and won the Tony Award for Best Play. Its original cast included John Lithgow and B.D. Wong and the plot is an adaptation and deconstruction of the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly.
In addition to the Puccini opera, the narrative is inspired by a real affair between a Chinese opera singer and a French diplomat that lasted for 21 years. The diplomat became aware that his lover was male after he was charged for treason and learned that his Chinese mistress was in fact a male spy for the government. Inspired by the shocking piece of history, Hwang wanted to write a play that explored the role of racial stereotypes, colonialism, and sexuality and gender.
In 1993, the play was adapted into a film starring Jeremy Irons and directed by David Cronenberg. M. Butterfly was revived in 2017 on Broadway, directed by Julie Taymor.
