The Birth of the Butterfly
The year was 1990. Inside a classroom of a modest size with the ceiling fan gently whirring, an androgynous young man of eighteen with a strong jaw and a pointed nose, the latter he got from his father's mestizo bloodline, nervously looked on as the naughty classmate of the director he's going to act for in a scene study gets scowled at by that tall professor with a beard, a moustache, and a distinct booming voice. Frightened, he turned to leave. However, fate had other plans. Stay, he did.
That professor was Tony Mabesa, who saw Raymond "RS" Francisco, a young man without any professional theater experience but had a keen instinct when it comes to acting, then performed for future Tony Award winner Clint Ramos who got him for the scene study. That performance must have been remarkable, for when RS auditioned for the Dulaang UP founder and then artistic director as a lead actor, he got the part.
His transition to Song Liling also marked the change of the name he's known as: Raymond Francisco to RS Francisco. It is because the play was M. Butterfly, the 1988 Broadway success which made its playwright, David Henry Hwang, an international sensation because he was the first Asian American to win the coveted Tony Award. Song Liling wasn't just an enigmatic beautiful Chinese opera diva, she was actually a he, so it shouldn't be too obvious on the poster that the actor of course was male, since it might foreshadow the plot twist.
Tony Mabesa first directed the play in 1990 under Dulaang UP, making it one of the first stagings of the material in Asia, if not the Asian premiere. Hwang deconstructed Madama Butterfly, the 1904 Puccini Opera, to come up with a material that examines Western supremacy and Asian gender stereotypes. The real-life honeypot entanglement of French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu which concluded with a trial in 1986 became the basis of the play's central characters which are Rene Gallimard and Song Liling.
So, what happened to the naughty classmate in the classroom who angered his professor by answering with a tongue click like Charley from Hereditary when he meant yes? That classmate, Kanakan-Balintagos, popularly known as Auraeus Solito, whose breakthrough was being the auteur of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) will be directing M. Butterfly's return to the Philippine stage with RS Francisco reprising the role. This staging which will run from Sept. 13 to 30 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in BGC marks many firsts.
It will be the first time Gallimard will be played by a real French actor in the person of Olivier Borten. It will also be the first time David Henry Hwang himself will fly to the Philippines to witness this controversial material come to life once more. And, most important of all, it will be the first time a Broadway producer, Iloilo native Jhett Tolentino, will produce a full-length production in the country. M. Butterfly Manila is produced by Jhett Tolentino Productions (JTP) and Frontrow Entertainment, the latter a company in which RS is the president.
This grand production which had its cinematic trailer shot in Beijing (featuring the Great Wall of China) is actually a non-profit venture. All proceeds from the play will go to different beneficiaries such as Love Yourself Foundation (HIV awareness), Teach for the Philippines, Trip to Quiapo Workshops (Ricky Lee), Philippine High School for the Arts (the rent for Mt. Makiling where the school is based is now higher by 13 million pesos), Hope for Change (currently supporting 100 students from elementary to college by sending them to school for free), ELAC (Environmental Legal Assistance Center), and many more.
RS recalled that his first talent fee was PhP2,500 which was for 20 shows of M. Butterfly. He was supposed to spend it on a pair of Benetton jeans but ended up buying grape juice and a bunch of bananas for his father instead. He also remembered that since there was still clamor for the show after its very successful initial run at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrerro theater, they ended up touring it around the country. Before that, however, there was a time, when the show was nearing the end of it's initial run. he was so at home that a surprise exposure happened.
"Parati, every time that I'd strip, nakatalikod. And then, after doing it for months and months in UP, I got so kampante na...at home. Ont time, nagfront...nung naghubad ako nakalimutan kong tumalikod sa audience, nakalumtan kong humarap kay Behn. So, pagharap ko sa audience, nakafrontal," he confessed. Tony Mabesa of course confronted him about his accidental frontal and asked: "Why did you show your dingaling?" Months passed and during on of their mobile tours of the play, they were able to perform in Iloilo, Baguio, and Los Baños gymnasiums. The performance space and the pit were enormous. While he was doing his make-up, Mabesa approached him and said: "O, you can show na your dingaling."
Another rerun was staged at the Music Museum back in 1992, with Bart Guingona as the director and Paul Holme as the Gallimard opposite RS, under talent manager Arnold Vegafria's production house. The original Filipino Gallimard was the late Behn Cervantes. Doing the show paved the way for RS getting cast in Mel Chionglo's Midnight Dancers (Sibak) in 1994 as Michelle, in which he eerily looks similar to Nonie Buencamino (played a gay role in the film as well), during his love scenes.
Joining him in this grand theatrical production as supporting cast members are Pinky Amador (Helga), Norm Mcleod (Manuel Toulon), Lee O'brian (Marc/Sharpless), Rebecca Chuaunsu (Comrade Chin/Suzuki), and Maya Encila (Renee). Ensemble members are John Paul Ortenero, Pheit Lenna Ballug, Kay Megan Kierulf, Aira Jay Igarta, and Ulysses Basa. Rica Nepomuceno, a coloratura soprano from the UP College of Music, will perform the opera parts.
Other members of the artistic team include: Eric Pineda (Costume Design), Ohm David (Set Design), Jethro Joaquin (Sound Design), John Batalla (Lights), Carissa Adea, and Gerry Penaso (Make-Up Design for Song Liling).
RS recognizes that whatever heartaches and challenges he went through in life, they are actually key ingredients to a more mature portrayal of the Chinese spy. "I can do justice to her [Song Liling] right now more than I did in 1990." Like what Rene is to Song, this might just be the Star Awards 2018 Movie Actor of the Year's greatest acting challenge.
For tickets, you may contact Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. The gala night (September 13) is invitational and no tickets are for sale. As of writing, the following shows have been sold out: Sept. 16 (3pm), Sept. 28 8pm, Sept. 29 (3pm), Sept. 29 (8pm), and Sept. 30 (8pm).
Multidimensional Aspects of Song Liling in the Chrysalis
The Chrysalis will be a convergence among the country’s TOP, most notable, photographers. This exhibit will feature THREE LIMITED EDITION PRINTS of each Master Photographer’s interpretation of Song Liling while Eric Pineda will be creating Song Liling’s costumes for all photo shoots in this series.
As M. Butterfly flutters back to the Philippine stage this September, we will witness much much more than a mere re-staging. This 2018, we will witness a butterfly fly out of the theater walls and into the lives that it can positively change.
The idea of bringing back the magical power of M. Butterfly’s tale blossomed into several benevolent projects as production spearheads have decided to dedicate 100% of the proceeds from the entirety of this production to charity. Hence, the photo exhibit title “Chrysalis” or transformation.
Photographers: WIG TYSMANS, BJ PASCUAL, JUN DE LEON , MANDY NAVASERO , MANNY LIBRODO, PATRICK UY , and RAYMUND ISAAC
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