Kiss of the Spider Woman
Bristol Old Vic
★★★★★

KANDER AND EBB’s award winning musical of 1990 has echoes of both Cabaret and Chicago in its dark personal/political themes set against a range of catchy, upbeat songs. The setting for Manuel Puig’s original novel was an Argentinian prison although the musical adaptation is less specific, identifying location only by Latin American accents and rhythms.

The plot evolves around the changing relationship of two men incarcerated together in an overcrowded and inhumane prison where torture and abuse is rife. Molina (Fabian Soto Pacheco) is a homosexual window dresser sentenced for corrupting a minor while Valentin (George Blagden) is a Marxist revolutionary.

The initial hostility expressed by Valentin to his cell mate for his values and sexuality is gradually eroded by the man’s kindness and ability to create an alternate, life-raft reality in his detailed recollections of his film idol, Aurora, and her many roles in typical ’30s and ’40s musical melodramas. The Spider Woman of the title, with her inevitable kiss of death, being one of her films.

The growing friendship and trust between the men is threatened and a profound moral dilemma created when we realise the Machiavellian prison warden is bribing Molina to betray Valentin whom he has been unable to break.

This outstanding revival excels in all departments, from the moving performances of the two cell mates to the traditional Hollywood-style dance numbers performed with agility and panache by Anna-Jane Casey’s Aurora, dressed in a range of stunning costumes designed by Gabriella Slade that have all the glitz of traditional Hollywood musicals. The contrast of her glamour to the dirty, unshaven prisoner dance troupe that support some of her songs is the essence of the production’s magic.

Likewise David Woodhead’s set and Howard Hudson’s lighting juxtaposes the oppressive bars and shadows of the prison with the colour and freedom of the fantasy musical numbers through seamless transformations. Memories of Aurora’s films are evocatively conjured up with Andrzej Goulding’s video projections whose stylised and realistic backgrounds, flecked with typical, old film imperfections, conjure up another world.

Despite the bleak setting and initial hostility, the men’s growing love for each other and the fantasy, pathos and humour created by many of the musical numbers, makes this show a testimony to humanity in the toughest of conditions and a fabulous revival.

Runs until May 16, box office: bristololdvic.org.uk