Kiss Of The Spider Woman: The Musical Soundtrack CD

John Kander and Fred Ebb's music for Kiss Of The Spider Woman tied for the 1993 Tony Award for Best Score with The Who's Tommy. The material seems ideal for the longstanding team, who have specialized in writing star vehicles (notably for Liza Minnelli) and have an interest in political themes (Cabaret). Kiss, which is set in a South American prison and features a prisoner who dreams of a gaudy movie star, would seem to offer them opportunities for both elements. In practice, although Chita Rivera does her best as the title character, this is not on a par with Cabaret, which is to say, good but not great Kander/Ebb. (Although it features the major performers from the Broadway cast, this recording is not technically an original Broadway cast recording, but in fact an original London cast recording, since it was made in London at the time of the West End run, prior to the show's coming to Broadway.) ~ William Ruhlmann

Cast includes: Chita Rivera.

Award Winner