Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Broadway Show
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Theatre	Broadhurst Theatre
Opening Night	3 May 1993
Tony Nominations	11
Tony Awards	7
Author(s)	Music by John Kander; lyrics by Fred Ebb; book by Terrence McNally
Director	Harold Prince
Choreographer(s)	Vincent Paterson and Rob Marshall
Leading Original Cast Members	Chita Rivera, Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello
Closing Night	1 July 1995

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 1993 Broadway musical written by John Kander and Fred Ebb with book by Terrence McNally. It is based on the Manuel Puig novel El Beso de la Mujer Araña. It opened on Broadway on May 3, 1993, played 904 performances, and initially starred Brent Carver, Anthony Crivello and Broadway theatre legend Chita Rivera. It won the 1993 Tony Award for Best Musical. A second New York cast, featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Howard McGillin and Vanessa Williams was also well-received.

A film of the same name, based on the same story was produced in 1985.

[edit] Plot Details

Luis Alberto Molina, a gay window dresser, is serving his third year of an eight-year-sentence for corrupting a minor. He lives in a fantasy world to flee the prison life, the torture, fear and humiliation. His fantasies turn mostly around movies, especially around a diva, Aurora. He loves her in all roles, but one scares him: This role is the spider woman, who kills with her kiss.

One day, a new man is brought in his cell: Valentin Arregui Paz, a Marxist revolutionary, already in a bad state of health after torture. Molina cares for him and tells him of Aurora. But Valentin can't stand Molina and his theatratical fantasies and draws a line on the floor to stop Molina from coming nearer to him. Molina, however, continues talking, mostly to block out the cries of the tortured prisoners, about Aurora and his mother. Valentin at last tells Molina that he is in love with a girl named Marta.

Again, Valentin is tortured, again Molina has to care for him afterwards. In his fantasies, Aurora is next to him, helping him do so.

The prison director announces to Molina that his mother is very ill and that Molina will be allowed to see her. Condition: He must tell the name of Valentin's girlfriend.

Molina tells Valentin about his love: A waiter named Gabriel. Only a short while afterwards, Moline gets hallucinations and cramps. He's brougth to the hospital ward, talking to Aurora and his mother. As Molina's brought back, Valentin starts suffering from the same symptoms. Afraid of being given substances that might make him talk, he refuses to go to the hospital and asks Molina to tell him about his movies.

Molina is happy to do so; Valentin also shares his fantasies and hopes with Molina. Molina is allowed a short while at the telephone with his mother, back he announces to Valentin that he's going to be freed for his good behaviour the next day. Valentin begs him to do a few telephone calls for him, Molina at first refuses, but Valentin knows how to persuade his cell mate...

Molina is brought back the next day, heavily injured. He has been caught in the telephone cell, but refuses to tell whom he has phoned. The warden draws his pistol, threatening to shoot him, if he doesn't tell. Molina confesses his love to Valentin and is shot. Aurora bends over him and gives her deadly kiss.

[edit] Track listing

• Prologue
• Her Name is Aurora
• Over the Wall
• Bluebloods
• Dressing Them Up
• I Draw the Line
• Dear One
• Over the Wall II
• Where You Are
• Over the Wall III - Marta
• I Do Miracles
• Gabriel's Letter / My First Woman
• Morphine Tango
• You Could Never Shame Me
• A Visit
• She's a Woman
• Gimme Love
• Russian Movie / Good Times
• The Day After That
• Mama, It's Me
• Anything For Him
• Kiss of the Spider Woman
• Over the Wall IV - Lucky Molina
• Only in the Movies

[edit] External links

• Kiss of the Spider Woman at The Internet Broadway Database

Kander and Ebb musicals
Flora the Red Menace • Cabaret • The Happy Time • Zorba • 70, Girls, 70 • Chicago • The Act • Woman of the Year • The Rink • And The World Goes 'Round • Kiss of the Spider Woman • Steel Pier • All About Us • The Visit • Curtains