The Butterfly
by Bijan Mofid

Play script dramatized by Bijan Mofid from the original story SHAPARAK KHANUM by Farideh Fardjam.

Translated from the Persian by Don Laffoon.

Delicate Persian fantasy of the insect world.

Cast of 3 women, 6 men.

One set.

Insect costumes.

A beautiful Butterfly is trapped in a barn and falls into the clutches of a Spider who threatens to eat her, but agrees to let her go if she will bring him other insects to satisfy his hunger.

In her travels about the barn, she finds other insects who will follow her, but learns that each is performing a useful function and instead of luring them to their death, she gives each one something of herself, stripping her beautiful raiment until she is quite bedraggled.

Returning at last to offer herself to the Spider, he releases her, and shows her the way out.

But as she flies off into the sun, the Honeybee, who loves her, hears the song of the Spider, and is left to begin his own journey, his own test.