This play will be a fusion of cultures, of arts, of people and of tragedy and exhilaration. This is an ambitious attempt to perform a Chinese traditional folk tale in as much authentic flavor as possible, with a cast consisting of both western and eastern origins. We will incorporate Chinese acting gestures into English drama techniques. We will bring you music with both eastern and western instruments. It will be a play of elaborate costumes with minimal settings and props. With a team of experienced Chinese dancers and accomplished musicians, this play will indeed be a spectacular exhibition in a western setting.

The butterfly in my interpretation of this play, is a symbol of liberation. They start trapped in the bodies of ugly caterpillars wanting to be something better. Then they disappear into cocoons only to escape their cocoons transformed into beautiful creatures. The sense of being trapped comes through in the plots of YingTai being denied an education because she's a girl, and Shanbo being denied the woman he loves because of social status. But despite the oppressive social norms, the ugly side of humanity, even death; their aspirations to break free turns them into butterflies in the end.

Ultimately, the intention of this play is to bring it into context of today's world - our idealistic hope of breaking down all barriers between cultures and free from discrimination of every kind.


Wen Tak Wong,
Co-Director