Kiss of the Spider Woman Question

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 9:39pm

So I'm writing a paper comparing the novel, film, and musical versions of "Kiss of the Spider Woman." I'm thinking of using it on grad school applications so it needs to be really good. Does anyone know of any books or essays about the show or where I can find some reviews of any of the three versions?

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 9:46pm

Good Idea! I'll bet Margo knows!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:03pm

The musical started out in workshop at SUNY Purchase. You might want to investigate that as part of your paper.

[sfboy20]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:13pm

well, for reviews of 'spider woman', try the New York Times archive.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:16pm

And you definitely wanna look into the book "Colored Lights" which is an interview with Kander and Ebb. They talk about the origins of the show and about Manuel Puig.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 12:26am

I would highly recommend you to buy the original novel by Puig. A masterpiece!!!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:17am

I have John Simon's anthology of theater criticism, and his review of Broadway production is in there. It's pretty extensive, and I imagine there's some good stuff in there for essay research. Frank Rich's review of the SUNY production is also very interesting--both of these reviews might be found online, either at the periodicals' respective websites or through Google. If you want, I can PM you links to the Sun Times and Tribune reviews of the Chicago production I'm in right now too, although they aren't as long as a NYT or NY Magazine review would be.

I also suggest (both for your essay and for your personal enjoyment) the book "Harold Prince: A Director's Journey" by Carol Ilson. It has extensive behind-the-scenes history on "Spider Woman" as well as all of Prince's other shows. A great read.

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:41am

Hahaha...funny...I already have "Colored Lights" and the original novel by Puig. And yes, the novel is amazing!

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:11am

Call LIVENT in Canada, Ask for Garth Drabinsky...

Updated On: 2/3/06 at 02:11 AM

[only1buttcheek]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:33am

i can send you a very intriguing paper i had written on "kiss" the film. it also has a works cited page, with plenty of articles i believe that you should be able to look up. let me know and i can email it once i locate it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 9:18am

I thought it was interesting that a program was set up at SUNY Purchase to foster new shows away from NYC critics. But the critics (like Frank Rich) came anyway uninvited. So the program really didn't serve the purpose that was intended.

[zelda]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 10:23am

I'll bet if you wrote to Chita herself she would respond.

[Switz78]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:29pm

I did a paper in college about the musical and the book (didn't include the film). If I can fond it I will pull out the works cited and pass them along. I know I have it on a disk somewhere.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 4:20pm

I'd highly recommend "Harold Prince and The American Musical Theatre (Expanded Editon)" by Foster Hirsch. There are plenty of details about the SUNY production and the rewrites in it.

And just a suggestion...
When you reach the part of your paper where the show opens on Broadway, don't portray it as a smash hit. The show didn't recoup and got mostly mixed reviews, including one I consider quite negative from Frank Rich. (That review is available on The Times' website.)
Updated On: 2/3/06 at 04:20 PM