Kiss of the Spider Woman

Manuel Puig was born in 1932 and grew up in Argentina. After the coup d’etat he left Argentina and while in exile in London he wrote Kiss of the Spiderwoman. The story-line draws on his knowledge of the turbulent and violent times in the mid 1970’s and is set in an Argentinean gaol in Buenos Aires in 1976. The entire play is staged in a cell which the two prisoners share. A deep bond of understanding and friendship develops between these two with their very different personalities.

As an amateur piece of theatre the acting and setting was beyond excellent with the atmosphere and tensions it created.  It was thought provoking and at times graphic and shocking. Unfortunately, being realistic, the subject matter will not necessarily appeal to all theatre goers as was possibly demonstrated by the disappointingly small audience.  

Helen Clarke had previously directed these two actors in Bully Boy a couple of years ago and a good understanding had developed between them and both jumped at the chance of working together again. The excellent  direction  from Helen utilises a multitude of props on stage, all of which appear to be used at some time, giving the actors a focus whilst delivering their lines. Indeed one or other of the actors are nearly always moving around the very cramped acting area and generally making themselves busy as the time passes.  Dean Wales plays  Molina, a gay and sensitive window dresser who has been jailed for gross indecency. Ben Maytham  is Valentin, a young Marxist revolutionary who had been tortured after being suspected of  being involved in a terrorist attack.  Both men have an enormous amount of dialogue which they deliver faultlessly and their acting skills and artistic expression highlighted the tensions that arise between them.   

To pass the time each day Molina  recounts the story of the Spiderwoman from a film he has seen. As he does so, we see clips of the film which are projected onto the back wall of the cell.  Irina (the Spider Woman) is played by Ellena Woolf. She never appears on stage apart from the shots we see of her on the projection, with some fabulous videos and close up shots by  Paul McGhie of this vampish character. We learn that  Molina has been offered an early release if he can get Valentin to reveal details of his organisation  and we  briefly see the Prison Warder (Richard Spencer) as he questions Molina to see what further secrets he has learnt from Valentin about his terrorist connections.  The tensions  soar right up to the final moments as we hear the outcome.

The set was well designed by Dave Borthwick along with all the essential and numerous props by the Stage Manager, Anthony Malster.  This was enhanced with sound and lighting by James Aleksic and costumes all looking absolutely filthy and realistic by Robb Gilbert.  Make-up is also to be congratulated, especially  regarding the wounds revealed on Valentin’s  back.

This play certainly pushed all the parameters of amateur theatre, particularly those scenes involving sexual activity and unfortunate toilet accidents.  Helen, her cast and all her team should be congratulated on this tense, gripping and courageous production.  

Catherine Dixey, NODA  East Representative District 12

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