Review: Habanera After Dark (Courtyard Theatre)

Review by Ruth Sealey

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I will start with an admission that I have never watched an opera and know very little about Carmen. However, I do love musical theatre, so the thought of combining something I love with something I am not so familiar with was an opportunity I was very keen to take. That opportunity has arisen with Habanera After Dark at The Courtyard Theatre, as part of the Camden Fringe Festival. The idea of bringing two genres that, while sharing some similarities, are often seen as quite distinct is certainly an intriguing one. Would combining the story of Carmen with music from modern musical theatre prove a successful experiment? 

Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet, first performed in 1875, that tells the story of a fiercely independent woman who refuses to be constrained by the men around her. Falling in and out of love sets her relationships on a dangerous path, and the opera explores love, jealousy, and obsession. Habanera After Dark takes the story of Carmen and musical numbers from modern theatre, describing the fusion as being ‘Carmen meets Cabaret’. The themes of both stories make for an interesting combination, with women who yearn for freedom and do not comply with the restrictions or expectations of their time. The cross-over of opera and musical theatre is not entirely new. Examples of successful adaptations between the genres include Aida, Verdi’s opera transformed into a musical by Elton John and Tim Rice, and Miss Saigon, based on Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly. Both demonstrate that the two forms can successfully sit side by side, and I am not aware of many current productions that combine opera and musical theatre songs within the same production. The joy of fringe theatre for new writers is that it gives space for this type of exploration and creativity. 

Written by Isabel Benson, who is also the creator, co-director and plays Carmen, Habanera After Dark is set in a cabaret club, complete with an Emcee. Benson has clearly combined two of her passions, with care evident in her song choices and the production itself. However, without prior knowledge of Carmen, it was difficult to really understand who Carmen is, what motivates her and how her story develops. The Emcee provides some context, with the strongest moments coming when he interacts with Carmen, particularly moments like the exchange of pearls, which give her a greater sense of character. The song choices include some of my favourite musical theatre numbers, but the links between songs and the story are not always clear. At times, the songs feel more like individual moments than part of a developing narrative, making it difficult to follow Carmen’s journey and fully understand the story being told, with the music and story feeling a little disjointed.

Though my comments on the writing may make this review come across rather negatively, this was the only thing that was ultimately holding it back at this point in its development, with many strengths to be found elsewhere in the production. Benson and co-director Jon Godsi manage the space and the movement around the stage particularly well. The use of the cabaret tables and the cast moving onto the raked steps among the audience develops the immersive feeling, making the space appear more intimate and in keeping with the atmosphere of a cabaret club. There are some particularly strong moments, with the direction of ‘Therapy’ from tick, tick….Boom! standing out as a clever sequence that raised laughs from the audience. It is in these moments when the production feels at its most assured, showing how effectively the cabaret setting can be used when the staging and material work together.

I will caveat my comments about the writing with a mention of the stunning cast. While I found the story of Carmen difficult to invest in, I could have listened to the cast sing for much longer than the allotted hour. Benson carries the operatic elements with power and emotion before turning her hand to singing an incredibly well-acted version of ‘Maybe This Time’ from Cabaret. Nicholas Curry looks born to be Emcee, while Charlie Mark Antony is a standout in the ensemble, carrying the male harmonies with strength and clarity. Valentine Fauste-Gay, Isabella Awang and Ariella Barnett all hold their own within a strong ensemble; however, Amy Cash is the standout for me, delivering a stunningly beautiful ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ from Hadestown while commanding the stage with a mesmerising presence.

Visually, this production is beautiful to watch, with thoughtful detail in the costumes and props, and musicality that is among the sharpest I have seen in fringe theatre. Musical Supervisor and Arranger Felix Elliott crafts something really special with a combination of genres and the way songs are blended together. The band performs live on stage, delivering music of a consistently high quality and under Musical Director Lily Blundell, the balance of tempo, instrumentation and vocals is finely judged. Valentine Fauste-Gay’s choreography adds another layer with excellent passages of movement, which showcase the skill of the performers.

Benson should feel rightly proud of what has been created here: taking a new idea, pairing it with well-chosen musical theatre songs and shaping it into something with real promise. The digital programme includes a section titled ‘The Future’, and it feels rather fitting, as Habanera After Dark has plenty of potential. The concept is clever: why not combine these two genres? With more time to develop the writing, tighten the storyline and strengthen the connection between the beautifully arranged songs and the story, this could become a much more cohesive production. There is already a strong foundation here, particularly the strength of the cast, the quality of the live music and the creativity of the arrangements. With further development, I hope that this production gets the chance to find its feet and fulfill its potential.

Habanera After Dark plays at The Courtyard Theatre until 18^th August. Tickets from https://camdenfringe.com/events/habanera-after-dark/