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Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton of the U.S. Navy is inspecting a house in Nagasaki where he will live with his Japanese bride, Cio-Cio-San ("Butterfly").
Sharpless, the American consul arrives and Pinkerton makes it clear that this marriage is a sham, for he plans to leave and marry an American woman.
Butterfly, her relatives and the marriage officials enter. Sharpless is concerned that Cio-Cio-San is already very much in love. The festivities are interrupted by the Bonze, Butterfly's uncle. He curses Butterfly for becoming a Christian.
Three years later, Butterfly and her companion Suzuki pray for the return of Pinkerton, who has not come back from the United States. Sharpless enters with the news that Pinkerton will soon arrive in Japan, but suggests that he may not return to his Japanese bride.
Butterfly remains firm in her faith in Pinkerton, and when the wealthy Prince Yamadori arrives she refuses his offer of marriage saying that she is already married. A canon-salute in the harbour announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship, and Butterfly and Suzuki decorate the house and await his arrival.
The next morning, Suzuki is asleep alongside Butterfly's son, Sorrow, but Butterfly has stayed awake all night.
Sharpless enters with Pinkerton but, unable to face Cio-Cio-San, the latter rushes away. When Cio-Cio-San realizes that the woman outside is Pinkerton’s new wife, she swallows her grief and agrees that Trouble should go to America.
She decides to commit suicide after bidding a heart-wrenching farewell to her small son.
Special Support
This production was originally made possible through a generous gift from John A. Cook
Generously Underwritten in Part by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation
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