(Cover Photo: Kimber Lynn Z Drake as "Spider Woman/Aurora," in a moment from the musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

"Her name is Aurora and she is so beautiful no man who has met her can even forget her."

     - ("Molina") / Terrence McNally, John Kander & Fred Ebb

A Common Thread Theatre Company

Presents the Musical 

"KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN"

Book by Terrence McNally

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the novel by Manuel Puig

Directed by Jaimee Banks

Music Direction by Mathew Jacobs

Choreographer Holly Stone

Cast Includes: Liam Devine as "Luis Alberto Molina," Adam Sell as "Valentin Arregui Paz," Kimber Lynn Z Drake as "Spider Woman/Aurora," Dan Goldstone as "Warden," Cathy Merlo as "Molina's Mother," Julia Stoddard as "Marta/Ensemble," Andrew Webster as "Esteban/Ensemble," Sean Morris as "Marcos/Ensemble," David Kim as "Gabriel/Ensemble," Gabriel R. Diaz as "Ensemble," Jeffrey Green as "Ensemble," Jodi Schoolcraft as "Ensemble."

Additional Creative Team:

Producer - Jill Mack; Stage Manager - Nora Rogers; Assistant Stage Manager - Naomi Goldman; Stage Crew - Peter Belsley, David Mack; Lighting Design - Dan Fisklements; Lighting Crew - Kellen DeLaney, Peter Allia; Sound Design - Todd Short; Costume Design - Carolyn Olson, Elizabeth Horwitz, Natasha Newcomb; Digital & Graphic Design - Kristin Fehlau; Hair and Makeup - Lisa Graveline; House Manager - Jill Mack.

Performances:

July 26, 2024 through August 4, 2024

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)

Dennison Memorial Hall, Boston Church of Christ, 214 Concord Street, Framingham, MA. 01702

TICKETS:

# 508-834-4682

https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office

BUY TICKETS 

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

A Common Thread Theatre Company has staged an elegant production of "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" and its cast thoroughly shines in some relentlessly difficult material. 

The musical, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Terrence McNally, is based on Manuel Puig’s novel of the same name. 

The original production, directed by Harold Prince (with Broadway choreography by Vincent Paterson and Rob Marshall), premiered on Broadway in 1993 where it ran for 904 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. 

A film adaptation of "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" starring and co-executive produced by Jennifer Lopez is currently in production. God help us all. 

The Common Thread Theatre production utilizes the combined talents of its cast effectively, and the creative team's set design has given us a dark, bleak, foreboding environment representative of an Argentinian prison. 

(Photo: Liam Devine as "Luis Alberto Molina" with Adam Sell as "Valentin Arregui Paz" in a scene from the musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

Openly gay window dresser Luis Alberto Molina (Liam Devine), is serving time in a prison in Argentina, convicted of corrupting a minor. 

Devine (who barely leaves the stage the entire length of the two-and-a-half hour show) is spot on in his interpretation of the Molina character, showing him as simultaneously noble, pathetic, courageous and tragic. A terrific performance.   

One day, a new inmate is thrown into Molina’s cell. The new prisoner is Marxist revolutionary Valentin Arregui Paz (Adam Sell), wounded from many rounds of brutal torture. 

Sell is completely steadfast in the role of Valentin, a man committed to his cause, a cause he feels is just - in a country which he feels is not anymore (but hopes one day will be again). 

(Photo: Liam Devine as "Molina" with the CAST of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

Molina explains to Valentin that, in order to alleviate his brutal prison existence, Molina has created an “escape hatch” for himself - a fantasy world based on a very specific genre of old movies. 

His fantasies revolve around the sultry actress Aurora (Kimber Lynn Z Drake) which Molina sings about in the number "Her Name is Aurora." 

Molina has memorized the scenes and dialogue of all Aurora’s movies. 

However, there is one role he refuses to re-enact because it thoroughly petrifies him: that of the "SPIDER WOMAN" a seductress representing death, a woman who kills with her kiss.

(Photo: Adam Sell as "Valentin" with Liam Devine as "Molina" and members of the CAST of the musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

In a performance that might very well have been looked on favorably by the late, great Chita Rivera herself (who won a Tony Award for the role as Aurora), Kimber Lynn Z Drake moves into every scene like a sleek, seductive predator, almost channeling the iconic actress. 

With immense grace, she performs the many prominent tunes of Aurora to perfection, including the show’s title number "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" and the simply lovely duet "I Do Miracles" sung with actress Julia Stoddard. 

Just two among a slew of well-executed Aurora-led songs, and it should also be noted that the entire production is supported well by a finely tuned orchestra led by Music Director Matthew Jacobs.

Molina cares for Valentin who suffers ongoing physical torture and, while he does, he regales Valentine with the movies featuring Aurora. 

At first, Valentin despises Molina and his movie fantasies, drawing a line on the floor to stop Molina from coming nearer to him (apparently some sort of chalk is supplied to prisoners as their form of “in flight entertainment”). 

Molina, however, continues wearing Valentin down and soon the two cell mates become friends. 

(Photo: Adam Sell as "Valentin Arregui Paz" with the CAST of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

Valentin informs Molina that he is in love with a girl named Marta (Julia Stoddard) who is somehow connected to the Marxist movement. 

This hidden information by Valentin (and now Molina) soon becomes of vital importance for the prison’s Warden (Dan Goldstone). 

Goldstone is convincing as the hardened, manipulative Warden, who coerces Molina into spying on Valentin by alluding to the fact that Molina’s mother (Cathy Merlo) is mortally ill. 

The Warden tells Molina that if he informs on Valentin, Molina will be set free to go and see her. 

Merlo gives an emotionally satisfying performance as Molina’s mother, who simply wants the only person she has in life, her son, to be safe and happy. 

(Photo: Kimber Lynn Z Drake as "Spider Woman/Aurora" in a moment from the musical, "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through August 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

There was some excellent use of sound and lighting in "KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" by its creative team and costumes were perfectly aligned with the material, especially the elegant gowns and film costumes worn by Drake as Aurora.

All the supporting cast provide commendable performances, and the combined staging and choreography by Jaimee Banks and Holly Stone keeps the show moving at a fluid pace. 

Some of the choreography in the ensemble fell short on syncopated accuracy, such as in the first act closer, “Let’s Make Love” and the Act Two opener “Good Times” but the effort and enthusiasm was always there. 

Another standout musical number includes the song "Dear One" sung by Merlo, Devine, Sell and Stoddard.

"KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" continues in Framingham until August 4th and, since this is a show rarely done these days, it is strongly urged that you catch this one before it escapes.

Dennison Memorial Hall, Boston Church of Christ, 214 Concord Street, Framingham, MA. 01702

TICKETS:# 508-834-4682

https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office

BUY TICKETS 

Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including intermission

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews 

@Theatre_Critics  

ABOUT THE SHOW

"KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN" revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty reality with liberating fantasy. 

Cell mates in a Latin American prison, Valentin and Molina immediately clash. 

Valentin is a tough revolutionary enduring torture and Molina is an unabashed homosexual serving eight years for deviant behavior. 

Over time, the men begin to connect as Molina shares his fantasies about an actress, Aurora, who famously portrayed a "SPIDER WOMAN" who can kill with a kiss. 

ABOUT A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY

A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY is a community theatre, founded by local theatre veterans, which seeks to unite the Greater Boston area under a common goal: to foster, promote, and increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the arts and cultural activities through theatre and other artistic endeavors. We are committed to providing the hands-on training and education of actors, designers, directors and others involved in theatre productions. A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY may be a new name but its board members and instructors have been producing, directing, and creating theatre in the Metrowest area for the past decade. 

A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY

Phone # 508-834-4682

info@acommonthreadtheatre.org