Customer Reviews

Kiss of the Spider Woman and Two Other Plays

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"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.

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.

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.