Kiss Of The Spider Woman Reviews

MetroWeekly- Recommended

"...Molina is written to be a captivating storyteller, as we would hope any actor onstage to be in service to their role. But especially in this role, Molina's vivid tales must transport us into cinematic worlds of romance and intrigue, a challenge Argentinian actor Ruiz meets soundly, conveying the character's relish at keeping his audience in suspense."

Washington City Paper- Highly Recommended

"...Ruiz and Pedreira's performances are powerful because of their ability to tap into their sensitivity, combating the machismo that Puig wanted to combat. They play polar opposite men who are trying to survive in a hopeless place. Despite the dark circumstance, they both still exude sardonic humor. In this adaptation, Molina is the "Spider Woman," a narrative device that creates a more intimate world by streamlining and simplifying the storytelling."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...The play is set during Argentina's "Dirty War," a period spanning from the mid-70s to early 80s which saw anti-communist operatives of the state arrest, torture, and imprison those whose ideologies and lifestyles failed to align with the "popular" politics of the day. GALA's play choice here speaks volumes. Molina (Martin Ruiz) and Valentín (Rodrigo Pedreira) are cellmates. Valentín, arrested for his unabashed Marxist politics, continues to fight the good fight, even from within the depths of his prison cell. Molina's arrest comes as a result of an affair with a minor, and likely also because of his brazen flouting of the rules of decorum-the hetero rules of decorum."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Reviving the play for which GALA founder, the late Hugo Medrano earned a Helen Hayes Award in acting in 1994 makes a splendid way to celebrate the launch of GALA's 50th season. Impeccably acted by Rodrigo Pedreira and Martín Ruiz, this production of The Kiss of the Spider Woman movingly brings to life the daily of two very different political prisoners detained in Argentina during that country's seven-year military dictatorship (1976-1983). Manuel Puig's stage adaptation in 1983 of his own 1976 novel mixes fantasy and documentary and winds up eerily familiar to anyone in America in 2025 who regularly pays attention to the daily news."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...Two prisoners - one a revolutionary, the other a queer idealist - are forced to share a cell while outside the prison an authoritarian regime uses state-sanctioned terror to remain in control. Set in 1970s Argentina, Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig is a classic of Latin American literature, brought back to the stage of the GALA Hispanic Theatre as part of its 50th anniversary. The story of Valentín and Molina is a reminder that even in the darkest times, people find ways to build connection through stories and to show kindness even to those who are different from them."