Sharp. Intimate. Visually stunning. This is as close to perfection as it gets.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What’s it about
Inside an Argentine prison cell, two men couldn’t be more different: Valentin, a hardened political prisoner, and Molina, a romantic who escapes into the world of classic films. As Molina retells the story of a glamorous screen siren—the “Spider Woman”—fantasy begins to bleed into reality.
The musical is based on the novel by Manuel Puig, first published in 1976, and later adapted for the stage by Terrence McNally, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). It premiered on Broadway in 1993, winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
What we loved
The Curve Studio Theatre is the perfect intimate setting for this musical.
Fabian Soto Pacheco and George Blagden, as Molina and Valentin, are exceptional—perfectly cast as two contrasting souls with electric chemistry. Anna-Jane Casey, as Aurora, is in her element—glamorous, seductive, and laced with a dark edge.
The production is visually stunning: exceptional lighting (Howard Hudson), an inventive set (David Woodhead), and clever use of scale and video design. Gabriella Slade’s costumes are a constant reveal—bold, striking, and exquisitely detailed.
Direction (Paul Foster) and choreography (Joanna Goodwin) are seamlessly fused—clever, layered, and precise. Nothing wasted. Everything intentional. It’s perfectly staged, both bold and intimate.
Add in a Kander and Ebb score, played beautifully under the musical direction of Dan Glover, and you couldn’t ask for more.
Anything we’d change
Absolutely nothing.
Who would enjoy this
If you like theatre that’s intelligent, mesmerising, beautifully performed, and visually striking—don’t miss it.
Who created it
Book by Terrence McNally, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.
The verdict
Sublime. Sensational cast. Every element working in sync.
A theatrical masterpiece.