Kiss of the Spider Woman

KISS 1A sharply provocative tale of love, victimisation and fantasy, Manual Puig’s Kiss of the Spider Woman tells of the friendship that develops between two strikingly different men. This powerful play has become a seminal piece of our theatrical landscape.

In a polarised political climate, Luis Molina and Valentin Arregui are cell mates in a South American prison. Molina, a homosexual, is found guilty of immoral behaviour and Valentin is an urban guerrilla arrested for his revolutionary activities.

Against a backdrop of loneliness and betrayal, Molina spins a tale of deception, intrigue and fantasy. The unlikely cell mates form an equally unlikely friendship based on their mutual support for each other.

Manuel Puig was an Argentine author who, among his best known novels are La traición de Rita Hayworth (Betrayed by Rita Hayworth), Boquitas pintadas (Heartbreak Tango), and El beso de la mujer araña (Kiss of the Spider Woman), which was made into a film by the Argentine-Brazilian director Hector Babenco and in 1993 into a Broadway musical.

As a child, Puig was fascinated by Hollywood movies and later spent time studying film directing in Rome.  An openly gay man, he described his work, Betrayed by Rita Hayworth, as a vehicle for dealing with the oppression of women and the development of a latent-homosexual child.

Kiss of the Spider Woman will be directed by Mockingbird Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Chris Baldock and will feature Company Member Adam Ward alongside Angelo De Cata.

“This is a phenomenal play for two actors – the right actors – to immerse themselves.” says Chris Baldock.

“I have the great privilege to be working with two brilliant and brave actors who are relishing the challenge of bringing these two brilliantly conceived characters to life.”

“Puig takes the audience down some pretty dark recesses of the mind but in the end, it is sacrifice, compassion and the need to really give of self that permeates this piece…and yes, love, as corny as that is, love is simultaneously nothing and everything.”

Kiss of the Spider Woman
The Owl And The Pussy Cat – 34 Swan Street, Richmond
Season: 6 – 15 September 2013
Bookings: www.mockingbirdtheatre.com.au

For more information, visit: www.mockingbirdtheatre.com.au for details.

Image: Adam Ward and Angelo De Cata