M. Butterfly

See it if you enjoy Taymor's strong artistic sensibility. Many striking images: fascinating panels, lighting, costumes. Engrossing plot; well acted.

Don't see it if you want enlightenment. MB: some men love a dream more than reality. Breaking of 4th wall is jarring. Ending (w/makeup applicn) felt forced.

Also I never saw the original MB, so I can't compare. I found the play riveting, but somewhat disappointing by the end. I loved the staging w/its rapid scene and costume changes and the colorful glimpses into Chinese theater. I'm glad I didn't miss MB, even if the script didn't fully deliver.... Read more Read less

See it if You’ve never seen it before. I have a feeling you’ll appreciate this best if you’re not comparing it to a previous production. I loved it.

Don't see it if you’re not willing to think a little outside the box. Julie Taymor’s direction is visually pretty busy for a play. Might distract. I loved.

See it if you've never seen this highly-acclaimed play, worthy of reviving (but worthy of a better production); you want to see a nice perf by Jin Ha

Don't see it if you've seen the play before. Taymor's passionless direction, rudimentary sets, Hwang's needless rewrites & a colorless Owen mar this revival

See it if you enjoy well-paced presentation that is clear and enjoyable. This retelling of the story is a great production-do not expect the original.

Don't see it if you do not like be spoken to by the main actors or if you want an original staging of this play.

See it if You are looking for a different type of Butterfly. As I watched this play fold out, I was wanting more.

Don't see it if If you think it like musical and dancing for not alot of sing.

See it if You like minimalist productions,Clive Owen,hidden secrets,Asian culture norms,East v West, difficult love affairs, feeling torn.

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with sexual references and nudity. Like elaborate staging and fast action. Saw the original. Believe NY Times.

See it if want to see a revival of an important play that brought Asian-American actors and playwrights to greater attention

Don't see it if you are prudish

See it if you like great acting.Clive Owen's incredible.He hits every emotional color.Set is constantly changing, leaving us off balance,like the play

Don't see it if you want a story wrapped up with a bow.This leaves you wondering about sexualtiy,love,fantasy.If we love, does it matter if it's an illusion

See it if you enjoy thought provoking dramas with more of a focus on ideas than emotions, and you want to see dishy Clive onstage.

Don't see it if you'll miss the emotional punch of the original or you expect flashy sets and costumes.

Also I struggled with this revival, comparing it to the original. Owen's performance had lots of head but for me didn't match the pathos Lithgow brought. And Jin Ha, although wonderful, was too androgynous for my taste, especially compared to B.D. Wong's exquisite and heartbreaking delicacy. The sets are skillful and striking in this fine revival, but the political elements added to the script were heavy handed and didn't enhance the story, in my opinion.... Read more Read less

See it if I'm not sure. I did not like the setting, the lack of set, Enormous, variably boring panels hung and maneuvered getting stuck. Boring.

Don't see it if You want drama. You want to know anything about the story.

Also I've seen CLive Owen twice onstage and both times I was struck by the "smallness", the naturalism of his performance. I think that this performance might have astounded on film. I was in 5th row center so it should have played, but it didn't. THis was extraordinarily different character than Old TImes, costume, posture, vocal delivery yet both seemed empty. Ha was mannered and strident and never was able to seduce me, I could not see any sexuality. The whole thing felt like a vaccum.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy timely gender bending dramas with two excellent performers

Don't see it if If you are offended by gender bending true stories

See it if you want to see a revival of a classic, intriguing play. Jin Ha delivers a standout performance as Song Liling and Clive Owen is excellent.

Don't see it if you're put off by darker themes, nudity, and intense adult topics.

See it if You want an updated version of this play. More information now. Clive Owen excellent. Worth seeing just for him.

Don't see it if You want light fluff. This is not a fun play. Serious. Must pay attention. If gender issues are not your thing, stay away.

See it if you are a die-hard fan of the play or Clive Owen. Interesting use of screens to show reality's fragility.

Don't see it if you want a thrilling revival. Acting was flat and the screens used looked cheap. Very stark in color and execution. You don't like nudity.

Also So sad to see a less-than-stellar revival given the cast and director. The set in particular looked "cheap" and distracted from the play.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a retelling with some interesting Julie Taymor staging, good acting.

Don't see it if you are put off by very explicit sexual discussions and full frontal nudity.

Also Some of the Chinese propaganda pieces went on too long.

See it if Never saw the original and want a glimpse of what it was about.

Don't see it if Remember the original - skip this. Nothing seems shocking or relevant anymore. Kind of boring actually.

See it if you never had the chance to see the original Broadway production.

Don't see it if you saw the original Broadway production, because you will be disappointed.

Also I saw the original 1988 Broadway production twenty night years ago. I was BLOWN AWAY, especially by actor B. D. Wong’s onstage transformation in the second act. In attending this production, I sat in my theater seat waiting and waiting and waiting to be transported but that moment I had back in 1988 never happened here in 2017and that greatly disappointed me. In fact, I was disappointed from beginning to end with the choices made for this production . It wasn’t until I came home last night and in researching the details of this revival, I learned that playwright David Henry Hwang RE-WROTE his original award winning play’s script for this revival. WTF? There is a saying that goes, IF IT AIN’T BROKEN DON’T FIX IT. What would possess a playwright whose work had been graciously honored with theater award after theater award to then decide mess with a thing of perfection? In closing, I’ll leave you with the words of novelist Thomas Wolfe - you can’t go home again.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be challenged on your ideas about masculinity and femininity, east and west.

Don't see it if You normally go to the theater on a date. This isn't a good show for a date.

See it if You really love clive owen.

Don't see it if You want to be bored to death, Mr.owen is always in a hit or miss broadway show.

See it if My friends and I had all seen the show in 1988 and we loved the revival. Clive Owens is terrific as is Jin Ha. I liked the sets as well.

Don't see it if You are pining for John Lithgow. It seems some reviewers are.

See it if You’re patient. The payoff, emotionally, comes at the end. But, you may have given up by that point. It’s meandering, and you don’t care.

Don't see it if You want a clear point of view. You’re meant to root for unsavory characters, and don’t know who you’re rooting for. It ends well.

See it if You have never seen a production of "M Butterfly" previously.

Don't see it if You don't want to see a finely written mangled by bad direction and poor acting performance by Clive Owen.

See it if you are a fan of the play or of Clive Owen

Don't see it if you are married to the original script (it's been updated) or object to depictions of sex or male nudity.

See it if exquisite performances by leads Clive Owen and Jin Ha; exhuberant moments of stagecraft and an unexpectant "dream ballet" in the middle

Don't see it if Set pieces often look cheap and are distracting; Act I requires so much storyline setup that best moments are in Act II; partial nudity

See it if you’ve never seen this script produced before and enjoy a live Owen.

Don't see it if you’ve seen the original production and production value is important to you.

Also Ha and Owen save this production. Frankly, Taymour should be ashamed.