Spider, Latin and Tang Shuwing
For the first session of the radio program I am involved, we have interviewed Tang Shu-wing for his new play in the Latin Passion Festival, Kiss of the Spider Woman. That's why I have finished Puig's book a while ago. It is complicated yet charming. A stage version could probably be lit with colors by the hypnotic cinematic fantasy the two characters are absorbed, in a thousand-and-one-night manner. Yet, many intriguing elements are not so readily translatable, like the excessive footnotes and other literary subtlety alluding to the issue/ questions on (Puig's or Argentinean) identity.
A major fascinating point for me is the possibility of the depicted "perfect" exchange (of the conversation): activist Valentin surrenders to homosexual Molina's care and affection, then M dies for V's political cause. And the sad ending of such perfection.Tang's statement is a bit generalized to me but it fits his recent attempt and development well I think: the manifestation of self - how one becomes a real human. He mentioned a feasible way to see M and V as one subject and the many other women roles in Molina's films as the "other" for such discourse.
The dark and haunting tone of Kiss among other festive and "passionate" programmes in the Festival (starting this Friday) makes it rather unique in the programme too. As Tang remarks, Latin America is actually a very poor region, with the majority suffering from poverty rather than dancing salsa and playing bossa nova all the time.
P.S. Phaedra directed by Tang for APA is going to Beijing tomorrow for 3 public shows. The dressed rehearsal was opened by invitation tonight. The staging is obviously economical and strong but the students are still green, although with a lot of admirable energy.... and APA is still APA. I would rather wait for the collaboration of Tang and the Spring.
(Image: William Hurt and Raul Julia in the film made in 1985 / from the official website)
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