'M Butterfly' Auditions
Stage Two Productions are holding further auditions for their Sep/Oct production of David Hwang's Tonny award-winning play 'M Butterfly' at the Musgrove Studio, Maidment Theatre.
M Butterfly is based on a shocking true story about a French Diplomat who fell in love with the beautiful Chinese Diva Song Liling, who was not only a spy for the Chinese government but also a man disguised as a woman. The play explores and challenges themes of race, sexuality and gender with a powerful use of meta-theatre which directly challenges audience opinion. M Butterfly is directed by Ben Moore.
We are looking particularly for suitable actors to audition for the two challenging lead roles:
Rene Gallimard: 30-40s white male. Should be comfortable with acting close to men, possibly kissing but negotiable. Contains the kind of racism and sexism that is (bizarrely) seen as acceptable within the western world. Has a severe fear of women who are beautiful or powerful or both. Feels worthless and emasculated by everything and everyone which is why the concept of Song (the character) is so attractive to him.
Song Liling: 20’s Asian male, who could play a convincing woman onstage. Should be comfortable with playing female and have a believable female voice, comfortable with being in underwear on stage. An enigma in many ways. The female side of him is carefully constructed to appeal to what a western man thinks an Asian woman should be. Portrays himself as a woman to pass information to the Chinese communist government. Intelligent and shrewd man.
We are also looking for men and women between 20-40 to play various other roles in the play.
Auditions will take place the evenings of Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th July at Auckland University.
Please email the director Ben Moore at welcometomyparlour@gmail.com for an audition time and info.
M Butterfly season is Tues 28 Sept – Sat 2nd Oct at the Musgrove Studio, Maidment
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James WenleyJames is an independent critic and writer for his Auckland Theatre Blog Theatre Scenes (http://www.theatrescenes.co.nz), and is a producer and director for 'Theatre of Love' (http://www.theatreoflove.co.nz).
He began reviewing theatre for Craccum Magazine in 2008, and was the Theatre Editor 2009-2010 before establishing TheatreScenes.co.nz in 2011. In 2010 he completed a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Drama from the University of Auckland and is currently studying towards his Masters.
He has directed and produced productions of Macbeth and The Who’s Rock Opera TOMMY at the Musgrove Studio, and was the Assistant Director for Auckland Theatre Company’s Young & Hungry smash hit ‘Fitz Bunny: Lust for Glory in 2010’. He was president of Auckland University's Stage Two Productions 2009-2010 and has produced three seasons of the short play program ‘Stir Fried Plays’, as well as ‘The Libertine’ and David Mamet’s ‘Sexual Perversity in Chicago’.
James’s latest production for Theatre of Love was the NZ debut of Jailbait by American playwright Deirdre O’Connor at Galatos Upper Lounge in May 2011, which he also directed. Theatreview’s Lillian Richards said it was “Mesmerizing, with suspension of disbelief achieved, I think this is a play that deserves to be seen.”
In 2011 he has been involved with the Producing Project - a joint initiative between Dance Studies NICAI University of Auckland, DANZ and MIC Toi Rerehiko to train and develop Producers. After attending workshops in Producing (Felicity Letcher), Marketing (Christine Young), Publicity (Rachel Lorimer) and Lighting (Sean Curham), the team has produced three seasons of dance shows featuring short works from established and emerging dance artists. His specific responsibilities where as Technical Manager (Taste Me, Galatos, June), Producer (Hear Me, Gundry Street, July) and Curator (Love Me, Galatos, August).
Through working with Lighting Mentor Sean Curham in this project, James was approached to produce the final work in Sean’s experimental Ghosting Series Are You Scared of Me? at the Corbans Estate Arts Centre in July 2011.
In 2012 he is producing Theatre of Love's 'Season of Obsession', working closely with established and emerging local playwrights.
Contact James: theatreoflove@gmail.com
