Steadstyle Chicago
	March 2008 Theatre Review by Joe Stead
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com M. Butterfly Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** (Left) Scott Danielson, David Rhee and Jeremy Young star in Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's production of "M. Butterfly".  Photos by Brandon Dahlquist. "Happiness is so rare the mind will turn somersaults to protect it."  So says the protagonist of David Henry Hwang's Tony Award winner "M. Butterfly".  The story was inspired by a real-life scandal involving a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer.  It was a 20-year affair made remarkable if downright unbelievable when the Frenchman claimed to know nothing of his lover's true gender.  It's still far-fetched, but Hwang's drama is more concerned with the fantasies one accepts as facts rather than a study in anatomical confusion.  It's a dazzling fusion of ideas that plays out in a scintillating storefront revival by Bohemian Theatre Ensemble. Director P. Marston Sullivan effectively scales down the spectacle of the original production to the more modest confines of the Boho space.  He has also managed to heighten the human drama of Rene Gallimard's quest for the ideal feminine mystique.  Gallimard finds the perfect embodiment of his misogynist dreams in Song Liling.  She's everything an insecure, socially inept Western man could want: delicate, submissive, ethereal.  But she's keeping a couple of big secrets from Gallimard.  Not only is she a card carrying spy for the Chinese communist government, but a man in disguise.  This "Madame Butterfly" meets "The Crying Game" scenario allows Hwang to explode cliches of Western superiority, Asian frailty and male and female role-playing.  Gallimard receives great pleasure watching his lovely little "Butterfly" writhing in pain on a needle.  As a senior emisary remarks, "The Orientals are people too; they want the good things we can give them."  Things become a lot more dicey, however when the traditional roles of male hunter and female prey get turned on their heads.  And we're left to ponder the depths of illusion and fantasy. Topping Boho's intimate chamber production is the masterful performance of Broadway and television veteran David Rhee, who is starring as Song through a special arrangement with Actors Equity.  Rhee finds the perfect balance between the facade of feminine frailty and modesty and masculine aggression.  Unfortunately, his co-star Jeremy Young isn't quite as convincing and represents the evening's one misstep as Gallimard.  Young is, how can I put this without becoming a pun, just too young to play the middle-aged cuckold.  He just doesn't project the feeling of repression and insecurity that would help us buy into Gallimard's delusion.  And while Melissa Canciller, Scott Danielson and David Tibble each have some entertaining moments in supporting roles, the minor characters are never as well fleshed out as the leads.  "M. Butterfly" is a good choice for a small theatre, and Boho deserves credit for rediscovering it. "M. Butterfly" continues through April 20, 2008 at Boho Theatre at Heartland Studio, 7016 N. Glenwood in Chicago.  The play runs 2 hours 15 minutes with intermission.  Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20.  Go Behind the Scenes for a look at Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's M. Butterfly.  Call (773) 791-2393 or visit www.bohotheatre.com.