Desire is a tarantula that bites, and not only the young. Desire is a venom that courses through the veins long past the days of its ability to be satisfied – Lola Montez
Narcissistic, impervious to criticism, and a pathological liar. Scandalous, bigamous, and the ruination of royalty. Countess, dancer and actress. The most generous, most wilful, and most self-obsessed woman of her generation was Lola Montez. Tarantula picks up her story on July 8, 1856, when returning to San Francisco from an exhausting and scandal filled Australian tour, Lolas lover, Noel Folland, disappeared from the deck of the Jane A Falkenburg and was never seen again, presumed drowned.
Using the conceit of a play within a play, Tarantula traces the story of Lolas life to unlock the mystery of this tragic disappearance, by having a contemporary actress making a play about her hero Lola. Set alternatively in a rehearsal room where the play is being made, and in flashback to Lolas world, the play is an hilarious and thought-provoking examination of the battle of the sexes – both from an historic and contemporary point of view.
Erotic, passionate and very funny, this is a play which asks questions about just how much and in what way women’s power had changed in the intervening years between Lola and our contemporary heroine, Gina and provides the opportunity for a virtuoso performance both from the gently aging Lola and her ardent young suitor.
First presented as a staged reading as part of Griffin Theatres Searchlight program this Tredwood Production marks the plays world premiere.