Akhe: Mr Carmen
Inspired by Bizet’s iconic opera, Akhe: Engineering Theatre, share their visually stunning piece, Mr Carmen. Maksim Isaev and Pavel Semchenko duel with two words: Carmen and Jose.
Starting with just one spotlight on the two bearded men (one in skirt and tights); they cleverly make use of the space by transforming the stage with thin strings and boxes. They create a boxing ring out of their cat’s cradle like contraption, and then the fight of love begins.
The battle’s format is simple: the performers take turns at present their favoured name in increasingly spectacular ‘attacks’. Between cigars and many drinks, each attack attempts to best the previous round. Sometimes comical and consistently clever and beautiful, they find the most creative ways to produce the names, “Carmen” and “Jose”. From creating the words with cigar smoke, via lighting effects or simply writing it on the floor with a wet cloth, the performers fight it out in the name of love.
The music aids the action by giving it emotion and allowing the story to be understood and a connection can be made more easily. By using a march beat and rows of feet drawn the on the set, a battle scene was put into place. The mutual obsession between Carmen and Jose heightens the
tension and the duel becomes more aggressive. Jose’s knife stabs through the heart of Carmen. They then take a drink.
Akhe wonderfully re-create a classic story and manipulates the stage to produce, what seems to be, magic, while holding onto the essence of Bizet’s works. Mr Carmen is an unforgettable piece of visual theatre.
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