Overview
Synopsis
It is the 1960s in Argentina, a time of civic, economic, and cultural turmoil. Window-dresser Luis Alberto Molina is in the third year of his eight-year prison sentence for sexual deviancy and corrupting a minor. He lives in the fantasy world of cinema, often visited by the beautiful Aurora, his favorite film star. And while he loves her, he fears the Spider Woman, a vampy diva who kills men with her kiss. One day, Marxist revolutionary Valentin Arregui Paz is pushed into this cell after being tortured. Valentin is hostile, secretive, and confrontational towards the chattering Molina, and even draws a line down the center of the cell to keep Molina away from him. But Molina is a caring man, and tends to Valentin after brutal torture, and even keeps Valentin’s secrets while sharing his daydreams of Aurora. The men develop a trusting relationship that extends beyond simple friendship into a true love and dedication to each other. Based on Manuel Puig’s bestselling novel El beso de la mujer arana with a vibrant score by the legendary Kander and Ebb, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a testament to fantasy and friendship in the most dire of circumstances.
Show Information
- Book
- Terrence McNally
- Music
- John Kander
- Lyrics
- Fred Ebb
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- El beso de la mujer arana (1976) by Manuel Puig
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1992
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Fantasy/Imaginary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- prison, Argentina, 1960s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
ACT 1
-
Prologue - Aurora, Prisoners
-
Her Name Is Aurora - Molina, Aurora, Aurora's Men, Prisoners
-
Over the Wall - Prisoners
-
Bluebloods - Molina
-
Dressing Them Up/I Draw the Line - Molina, Valentin
-
Dear One - Molina's Mother, Marta, Valentin, Molina
-
Over the Wall II - Prisoners, Molina, Valentin
-
Where You Are - Aurora, Aurora's Men, Prisoners
-
Over the Wall III/Marta - Marta, Valentin, Prisoners
-
Come - Aurora
-
I Do Miracles - Aurora, Marta
-
Gabriel's Letter/My First Woman - Gabriel, Valentin
-
Morphine Tango - Orderlies
-
You Could Never Shame Me - Molina's Mother
-
A Visit - Aurora, Molina
-
She's a Woman - Molina
-
Gimme Love - Aurora, Molina, Aurora's Men
ACT 2
-
Russian Movie/Good Times - Aurora, Molina, Valentin
-
The Day After That - Valentin, Families of the Disappeared
-
Mama, It's Me - Molina
-
Anything for Him - Aurora, Molina, Valentin
-
Kiss of the Spider Woman - Aurora
-
Over the Wall IV - "Lucky Molina" - Warden, Prisoners
-
Only in the Movies - Molina, People in His Life (Company)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress