M. Butterfly kicks off national tour
The M. Butterfly National Tour 2019 was kicked off with a show last Thursday, Valentine’s Day, at SM Iloilo with more shows yesterday, today (Feb. 16) and tomorrow (Feb. 17), all at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
R.S. Francisco reprises his role as Song Liling with Aira Igarta as alternate in certain performances. Igarta was an original member of the Kurogo ensemble of the play’s 2018 Manila run. He’s a stage and film actor from the Theatre Arts Program of UP Diliman where he took part in several Dulaang UP and Dulaang Labortoryo productions. R.S. is upbeat about Igarta. “I told him, ‘Talbugan mo ako’,” R.S. said. “I told him to make Song Liling more scheming and to make the audience feel that she’s really out to fool Rene Gallimard, the French diplomat crazy over the Chinese opera star. That’s my challenge to Aira…outshine me, upstage me!”
The tour is produced by Jhett Tolentino with R.S.’ Frontrow Entertainment. Other schedules: • Dumaguete City, at Luce Auditorium in Silliman University — Feb. 28; and March 1, 2 and 3, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.;
• Cebu City, at SM Seaside City Centerstage —March 14, 15, 16 and 17, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.;
• Davao City, at SM Lanang Premiew Cinema 6 — March 28, 29, 30 and 31, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.;
• Manila, at Maybank Performing Arts Theater — May 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and
• Baguio City, at St. Louis University — May 30 and 31, and June
1 and 2, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For tickets to Iloilo, Davao, Cebu and Baguio shows, check out SM Tickets at any SM Mall or online SMTickets.com. For Dumaguete, call (035)422-4365, 0917-3000346 or 0999-7977825. And for Manila, (02)891-9999.