Reading a play is not always a rewarding experience, but Puig's adaptation of his novel has a vibrancy that makes it a pleasure to read: the developing connection of the two disparate characters shines through from the dialog alone.

A wonderful reading experience.

4 stars

Translated from the Spanish by Allan Baker.

Obviously this is a reissue of this classic, don’t know if it is a new translation or not. Because I have my finger on the pulse I did not know this was made into a musical.

If you’ve never read/seen it, long story short/no spoilers: Molina and Valentin are cell mates in a prison in Buenos Aires, Valentin is a political prisoner, Molina there for sexual crimes. Molina is older and is either gay or transgender. The strong bond between the two is tested. It was very before its time. Excellent play. Highly recommend.

I read the new 2025 edition of Kiss of the Spider Woman as an ARC thanks to Aurora Metro Books. The main addition is a prologue by Sally Mears that provides a historical context on Manuel Puig and the publication of the book and play.

I have never read the book or play before, so this edition was my first interaction. The prologue was super helpful in giving me the context. Knowing Puig's unclear gender and sexuality helped to understand Molina's unclear identity. Plus, having the historical context of Argentina in which the book was originally published helped me understand the prison context of the book.

I also greatly enjoyed the play itself. I wish we had had more of these kinds of plays in high school and less of Shakespeare. It gets you to reflect more critically on social issues and histories of homophobia and incarceration. Despite being a dialogue between only two people, the story and character development are engaging. I now have the novel, movie, and musical on my bucket list.

Thank you to Aurora Metro Books for this ARC of the new edition!

5 stars

Delicate, devastating and so well written that even though this is a play script I could picture it all perfectly in my head as I read along. I have never seen the film and now, in the absence of it being on stage I will hunt it out and watch it. The translation is brilliant and the whole thing works perfectly.

4.5 stars!

I’ve been meaning to read Kiss of the Spider Woman for a few years now but haven't gotten around to it yet, so I was very happy when I got the opportunity to read this play version! Knowing this was written back 1976, you realise how well ahead of its time the author and story were, as it touches on a lot of important topics, such as sexuality, gender, and equality. The introduction at the beginning of the play offers a deeper understanding of Manuel Puig as an author and person as well as the historical context of the novel's publication and its progression from the book to its many adaptations. And then, in only 88 pages, the play manages to make you feel for the characters and be invested in what will happen to them in the end. I now can't wait to read the original novel and watch a movie adaptation of this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aurora Metro Books for the eArc!

The book opens with a foreword by Sally Mears, which goes into an in-depth exploration of the author's background, notable works, and the culture and time in which they lived. It then delves into the history, culture, and context surrounding the time when the book is set, as well as the various adaptations of the original work, including this book, which is adapted for the stage. Although it is lengthy and detailed, it is worth reading because it adds significant depth to the story and allows readers to view the book through a more profound lens.

The majority of the story is told through dialogue, through the two main characters, Molina and Valentin, as they pass the time in their shared prison cell, each of their stories unfolding as the narrative progresses.

This was a deeply moving and profound piece of work; I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and how the relationship between the two characters developed as the story went along. I really hope to be able to see it on stage or, at the very least, watch the movie, and I’m definitely going to pick up the original book and the author’s other works because this one was incredible.