Chita Rivera's wonderful memoir indicates that she, Chita, had brains. She knew how to bite her tongue. For example, she describes Liza Minelli's insufferable behavior during the run of "The Rink." Many storytellers (e.g. Patti LuPone) would choose to assault Liza with grievances and bitter memories. But Chita (and Chita's ghostwriter) would rather opt for compassion. It's an impressive passage.
As much as I love Victoria Clark, I find Clark's protestations of fatigue slightly tiresome. ("We actors are Olympic athletes!" "I was certain I was over the hill!") To this, I'd respond with clips of Chita, in her sixties, doing "Kiss of the Spider Woman." Chita basically *was* an Olympic athlete. By this point, she had already survived a traumatic car crash. I do not recall her whining about the "steep staircase" backstage.
"Kiss of the Spider Woman" was like my Bible throughout high school. I did not have the Vanessa Williams recording; I had the Chita recording. I love the title song; I love it partly because the Spider Woman sings of herself in the third person. She both is and *is not* the Spider Woman in this moment. She is really Molina's own projection; Molina is singing to himself. He and his nemesis, the Spider Woman, have melded to become one being.
Sooner or later, in sunlight or gloom,
When the red candles flicker,
She'll walk in the room....
And the curtain will shake...
And the fires will hiss....
Here comes her kiss.....
Molina understands how fragile some parts of life are--the "saluting minions," the "bliss" of sex--because life ends. No matter how ostensibly powerful you are, your life ends. "You're certain to meet.....in the bedroom, the parlor, or even the street. There's no place on Earth you're likely to miss....her kiss...."
A particular line is repeated; it's trotted out at the start, and then at the end. "You cannot escape." Death will come. You cannot escape.
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