MCB remakes Madame Butterfly

Melbourne City Ballet (MCB) will present it’s final production for the year, Madame Butterfly, at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, 17-18 December.

Madame Butterfly is MCB artistic director Michael Pappalardo’s adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera. Madame Butterfly follows a young Japanese girl called Cho-Cho (nicknamed “Butterfly) as she marries US Naval Officer Pinkerton only to have him depart for the Americas. As the years pass Butterfly awaits his return with hope, refusing any new suite but her Pinkerton. It is only upon Pinkerton’s return that Butterfly realise their union was not as she thought, ending in one of opera’s most famous tragedies.

Redeveloped into a three-act ballet, MCB’s production captures the story’s essence through the fusion of traditional Japanese and classical ballet movement, to Puccini’s evocative score.

“Madame Butterfly has been one of the most rewarding development process that I have been able to work on, says Pappalardo. “Everyone has been has been coming to rehearsals so eager to work, which works really well to portray the beauty of this ballet. I chose this ballet because of fond memories I have of this ballet from my professional dancing years. It was important to me to bring it to life in my own vision. The process is always ever changing, and I think that having an adaptive team of dancers is very helpful to constantly building and bringing fresh ideas to the table. Everyone's flexibility in this project and willingness to try new things really makes all the difference.”

MCB principal dancer, Yuiko Masukawa, who plays Madame Butterfly, says that her Japanese background has influenced the way she portrays and executes the role. “One of my favourite things about Cho Cho (Madame Butterfly) is that she extremely trusting and innocent, she reflects.  “I mean, when Pinkerton leaves, all of her friends and family tell her he’s not coming back, but she refuses to believe them. Madame Butterfly is the only Japanese-based ballet I have been a part of, most ballets are quite westernised so it’s nice to explore and reflect traditional Japanese movement.”

For dancer Emma Cheeseman, the role of Kate is quite different to roles she has played previously. “The role I will be playing is an American influenced role and it is very different to everyone else’s character in the ballet,” she explains. “I feel like I do have a connection with my character. Throughout rehearsals, it has been interesting to see the contrasts between the American and Japanese choreography, even the little differences are fascinating. For example, using the Japanese fans differently, in a sense they are used to hide behind rather than flaunt like a Spanish flick.”

For more information about Madame Butterfly head to http://melbournecityballet.com.au/