File puptcrit/puptcrit.0903, message 291


Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:01:06 -0400
From: Steve Abrams <sapuppets-AT-gmail.com>
To: puptcrit <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] Madama Butterfly


Last Sunday while driving back from a show, I listened to a live radio
broadcast of Madama Butterfly from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.I had
read quite a bit about the bunraku puppet used in this version of the opera,
but it was a wonderful l to hear the "play by play" announcer mention
puppetry so often and in such glowing terms. At the curtain call I was
thrilled to hear Kevin Augustine, Marc Petrosino and Tom Lee mentioned as
they took their bows on the Metropolitan stage.

Bravo Kevin, Marc and Tom
Brava to Patricia Racette as Butterfly

I am not sure if there were previous puptcrit posts about this milestone for
our art form.

The English National Opera asked film director Anthony Minghella to direct
Madama Butterfly.
It was first presented in London Nov 2005
Minghella is known as the director The English Patient 1996, and The
Talented Mr Ripley 1999.
In the late 1980s Mr Minghella wrote the scripts for Jim Henson's
Storyteller series.

The child of Cio Cio San (Madam Buttefly) and Pinkerton, is played by a
bunraku style puppet.
The London company Blind Summit Theatre founded in 1997 by Mark Down and
Nick Barnes were responsible for the puppetry.
On their web site they mention Phillipe Genty, Handspring Theatre, the
Wooster Group and the Sex Pistols as artistic influences.

In March 2006 Minghella' s Butterfly was presented in Lithuania
In Sept 2006 in played the Met in NY with a star studded opening night
audience
The choreography was by Minghella's wife Carolyn Choa
English puppeteers appeared at first: Mark Down, Finn Caldwell, NIck Barnes

In 2007 Kevin Augustine joined the cast.

In 2008 Anthony Minghella passed away at the age of 54
The radio broadcast from the Met was March 7 2009. I think there were also
movie theatre high definition showings on the same day
Check movie theatre listings for encore performances March 18 and March 19

Below is an article with photos on National Public Radio's web site from
2006

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6363789

Here is a youtube clip of a rehearsal session from the production in
Lithuania
The puppet is revealed at 1:30 minutes into the action (wait for it, its
worth it)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLmsKrRLUBg

Steve
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