Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays [Paperback]

Manuel Puig (Author), Allan Baker (Designer), Ronald J. Christ (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1994

Compiled together for the first time, here are three plays by Argentine novelist and playwright Manual Puig: the well-known Kiss of the Spider Woman, a sharply provocative tale of love, victimization, and fantasy, and of the friendship that develops between two strikingly different men imprisoned together in a Latin American jail; Puig's first drama written directly for the stage, Under a Mantle of Stars, a recurring dream that is never ending; and Mystery of the Rose Bouquet, an astute tale of deep compassion and illusion. These eminently readable plays highlight all the gifts that make Puig's fiction so remarkable. This is convincing proof that Manual Puig was one of our most talented writers - no matter what the medium. Puig is the author of seven novels, translated into fourteen languages.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A play can evolve from live theater to film and then on to musical theater, but the original intent and format is the written word of the playwright. With plays as evocative and readable as these three by Puig, the reader becomes immersed in the worlds created. While not as famous as the title entry, the other plays in this collection are as rich and captivating. Like Kiss , Mystery of the Rose Bouquet shows two disparate people finding solace with each other. Voices from their pasts will not, however, be silenced. The collection's final entry, Under a Mantle of Stars , tells of a never-ending wait for a loved one. A useful afterword is included with Puig's thoughts on acting interpretaton. Highly recommended for drama collections.
- J. Sara Paulk, Satilla Regional Lib., Douglas, Ga.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393311481
• ISBN-13: 978-0393311488
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theatrical masterworks by Puig, February 3, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays (Paperback)

"Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays" brings together three theater pieces by the great Argentine writer Manuel Puig. Both the title play and "Mystery of the Rose Bouquet" have been translated into English by Allan Baker; "Under a Mantle of Stars" has been rendered into English by Ronald Christ. Together, these three plays demonstrate the imaginative power, psychological insight, and compassion of a major artist.

"Kiss of the Spider Woman" is probably the best known of the three plays; it has been adapted into both a major motion picture and an award winning musical play. Telling the story of imprisoned cellmates--one a flamboyant gay man, the other a passionate political revolutionary--"Kiss" explores such themes as sexual identity, suffering, and self respect. "Under a Mantle of Stars" is a surreal piece that examines crime, violence, lust, and twisted family ties. The final play in the collection, "Mystery of the Rose Bouquet," is a moving drama about a hospitalized elderly woman and her nurse. "Mystery" deals with such issues as loss, duplicity, memory, and, ultimately, hope.

In "Under a Mantle of Stars," one character remarks that another character "dares to say whatever comes into her mind." To which a third character replies, "Which is one form of madness." Perhaps, like all great writers, Puig shared this special, naked "madness." But whether madness or genius, his works are memorable and powerful. This is an essential volume for those interested in Latin American literature, gay studies, or 20th century drama.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three exeptional plays by an extremely talented writer., June 5, 1999

By 

Holly A. Lenz (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays (Paperback)

Most people who have read any Manuel Puig, are familiar with his Kiss of a Spiderwoman, which the film and the Tony winning musical are based on. Also included in this book are two other plays. Under a Mantel of Stars is an outrageous sexual farce. Mystery of the Rose Bouquet is the real treat of the bunch. The play is about two elderly women, a nurse and her patient. It shows what Puig did best- write women. His female characters are some of the strongest and most interesting that I have ever read. All of the plays have relatively small casts and should be relatively inexpensive to produce.

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Norton's Puig, March 8, 2011

By 

Ryan S. Mease "scott.godwin" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays (Paperback)

This presentation of three plays by Puig, including the Kiss of the Spider Woman, was rather basic. The prose was neither gripping nor boring, interested nor distant. An adequate edition with a solid introduction, this collection left me wondering whether more might be had from another translation.