Their second offering of Madama Butterfly was first broadcast in the spring of 2009 and is absolutely heart wrenching!

So, come out and give it a try! I dare ya!

The actual show starts at 6:30 PM and has a running time of 2 hours 24 minutes. Look for our group near the pizza kiosk at the top of the escalator. And if the audience is ANYTHING like the Saturday morning crowd, you'll want to get there early or risk not getting a seat. We'll be going into the theatre no later than 6:10 PM. If you're running late, give my cell phone a call and I'll try and hold a seat for you.

Tickets are now onsale online at cineplex.com as well as at the theatre box office.

Synopsis:
See below for a detailed synopsis.

Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, based on the play by David Belasco
World premiere: Milan, Teatro alla Scala, February 17, 1904

Conductor - Patrick Summers
Cast:
Cio-Cio-San - Cristina Gallardo-Domas
Suziki - Maria Zifchak
Pinkerton - Marcello Giordani
Sharpless - Dwayne Croft

The title character of Madama Butterfuly - a young Japanese geisha who clings to the belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage - is one of the defining roles in opera, as convincing and tragic as any figure in drama. Part of the reason for the opera's enduring hold on the popular imagination may have to do with the fact that the mere mention of Madama Butterfuly triggers ideas about cultural and sexual imperialism for people far removed from the opera house. The opera, while neither emphasizing nor avoiding these aspects of the story, focuses more on the characters as real people than on complicated issues of power. The lyric beauty of the music for the thoroughly believable lead role has made Butterfly timeless.

Advance tickets for the performances are onsale now online at www.cineplex.com as well as at the theatre box office. You can purchase individual tickets for $23.05, or there are a variety of season ticket packages for the remainder of the season (for three or five performances - check online or at the theatre for details).

SYNOPSIS CONTINUED:

Act I
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton of the U. S. Navy inspects a house overlooking Nagasaki harbor that he is leasing from Goro, a marriage broker. The house comes with three servants and a geisha wife known as Madame Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San). The lease runs for 999 years, subject to monthly renewal. The American consul Sharpless arrives breathless from climbing the hill. Pinkerton describes his philosophy of the fearless Yankee roaming the world in search of experience and pleasure (“Dovunque al mondo”). He is not sure whether his feelings for the young girl are love or a whim, but he intends to go through with the marriage ceremony. Sharpless warns him that the girl may view the marriage differently, but Pinkerton brushes off such concerns and says someday he will take a real, American wife. He offers the consul whiskey and proposes a toast (“America forever!”). Butterfly is heard climbing the hill with her friends for the ceremony (“Spira sul mare”). In casual conversation after the formal introduction, Butterfly admits her age, 15, and explains that her family was once prominent but lost its position, and she has had to earn her living as a geisha. Her relatives arrive and chatter about the marriage. Cio-Cio-San shows Pinkerton her very few possessions, and quietly tells him she has been to the Christian mission and will embrace her husband’s religion. The Imperial Commissioner reads the marriage agreement, and the relatives congratulate the couple. Suddenly, a threatening voice is heard from afar—it is the Bonze, Butterfly’s uncle, a priest. He curses the girl for going to the Christian mission and rejecting her ancestral religion. Pinkerton orders them to leave and as they go the Bonze and the shocked relatives denounce Cio-Cio-San. Pinkerton tries to console Butterfly with sweet words. She is helped by Suzuki into her wedding kimono, and joins Pinkerton in the garden, where they make love (“Vieni la sera”).

Act II Part 1
Three years have passed, and Cio-Cio-San awaits her husband’s return. Suzuki prays to the gods for help, but Butterfly berates her for believing in lazy Japanese gods rather than in Pinkerton’s promise to return one day (“Un bel dì”). Sharpless appears with a letter from Pinkerton, but before he can read it to Butterfly, Goro arrives with the latest potential husband for Butterfly, the wealthy Prince Yamadori. Butterfly politely serves the guests tea but insists she is not available for marriage—her American husband has not deserted her. She dismisses Goro and Yamadori. Sharpless attempts to read Pinkerton’s letter and suggests that perhaps Butterfly should reconsider Yamadori’s offer. “And this?” (“E questo?”) asks the outraged Butterfly, showing the consul her small child. Sharpless is too upset to tell her more of the letter’s contents. He leaves, promising to tell Pinkerton of the child. A cannon shot is heard in the harbor announcing the arrival of a ship. Butterfly and Suzuki take a telescope to the terrace and read the name of Pinkerton’s ship. Overjoyed, Butterfly joins Suzuki in strewing the house with flower petals from the garden (“Scuoti della fronda”). Night falls, and Butterfly, Suzuki, and the child settle into a vigil watching over the harbor (Humming Chorus).

Act II Part 2
Dawn breaks, and Suzuki insists that Butterfly get some sleep. Butterfly carries the child into another room. Sharpless appears with Pinkerton and Kate, Pinkerton’s new wife. Suzuki realizes who the American woman is, and agrees to help break the news to Butterfly. Pinkerton is overcome with guilt and runs from the scene, pausing to remember his days in the little house (“Addio fiorito asil”). Cio-Cio-San rushes in hoping to find Pinkerton, but sees Kate instead. Grasping the situation, she agrees to give up the child but insists Pinkerton return for him. Dismissing everyone, Butterfly takes out the dagger with which her father committed suicide, choosing to die with honor rather than live in shame. She is interrupted momentarily when the child comes in, but Butterfly says goodbye to him and blindfolds him (“Tu, piccolo Iddio”). She stabs herself as Pinkerton calls her name.