Mockingbird Theatre Presents Kiss Of The Spider Woman
Kiss Of the Spider Woman by Manual Puig - One of the most loved and provocative plays of our time.
Season: September 6 - September 15, 2013
10 PERFORMANCES ONLY. BOOK NOW
Mockingbird Theatre Company Member Adam Ward features alongside Angelo De Cata in this explosive play by Argentine writer Manual Puig adapted from his best selling novel of the same name. Also the subject of an Academy Award-winning film starring William Hurt and Raul Julia, and a hit Broadway musical, it is directed by Mockingbird Theatre Artistic Director Chris Baldock and opens at The Owl and the Pussycat Richmond, on Friday September 6, 2013 at 8PM.
The play was first presented in 1985 at the Bush Theatre, London starring Simon Callow and Mark Rylance in an English version by Allan Baker. Baker's version was later revived in 2007 and starred Rupert Evans and Will Keen. Kiss of the Spider Woman is a sharply provocative tale of love, victimisation and fantasy, and of the friendship that develops between two strikingly different men.
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. This powerful play has become a seminal piece of our theatrical landscape.
"This is a phenomenal play for two actors - the right actors - to immerse themselves." says Director and Company Artistic Director 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. Molina is an affected homosexual and Valentin a macho political prisoner. They are, unsurprisingly, two completely opposite personalities but, through Puig's beautifully constructed and poetic script, we quickly understand that Molina and Valentin are not that different. Molina believes in fantasy, magic and love and Valentin believes in just causes but they both learn to believe in each other and that is really the crux of this play. 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 trailer from Mockingbird Theatre on Vimeo.
Chris Baldock is a highly respected director and actor in the Melbourne theatre scene. He directed the acclaimed production of The Laramie Project at Chapel off Chapel which won the 2005 Victorian Green Room Award for Best Independent Production. He revived the production last year to critical acclaim as the inaugural production for his own company, Mockingbird Theatre. He also received critical praise for his productions of Love! Valour! Compassion! for Midsumma and the Australian premiere of Shining City for Hoy Polloy. Mockingbird theatre has won critical and public acclaim for its productions of Blue/Orange, How I Learned To Drive and, the most recent offering, Equus, all directed by Chris Baldock.
Manuel Puig was an Argentine author who died of complication from a gallbladder operation in 1990. 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, Puig 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 tells one of those rare and entrancing stories where one thing seems to happen while another thing is really happening..."
"...Deeply human, incredible humane..."
"..Puig offers subtle insights into the value of imagination, love, and heroism..."
Cast: Adam Ward and Angelo De Cata.
Feedback/Comments
Exceptional acting, intense drama with high energy throughout the whole performance. Would love to see them again!!! Mockingbird has given us two memorable shows (Eqqus and Kiss of the Spider Woman)
Fantastic show. The acting was absolutely brilliant. Didn't know what to expect but canme out of it suitably intrigued. Note to self: do not bring first date to a play where there is a gay scene. :)
Great actors and an entertaining plot. Enjoyed it.
A fantastic and entertaining performance in a very intimate setting. The quality of the acting made this a very special show that should not be missed!
A really great performance from two very talented actors in this intense drama. It was rivetting to the end! Go see this!
The theatre was very small for this play. The 2 actors were superb and were on the tiny stage the whole time.The sets, the costumes and props were cleverly designed.The dialogue between the 2 actors was sellbinding.
A captivating performance by both actors on a cleverly designed set. The venue was also perfect for the show. Be warned that some people might find the show a bit confronting, but I thought it was stimulating and exciting. Thank you!
Very good performances.
Don't like the venue. Floor dodgy and we were provided with rugs as it was cold. Edgy.