The Concert / El Concierto

Synopsis

A garage in Havana transformed into a replica of The Cavern Club, where nostalgia and reality collide.

Johnny, an aging rock ‘n’ roll fanatic, steals a newly erected statue of John Lennon from a Havana park. He brings it to his garage, which he’s converted into a replica of Liverpool’s Cavern Club, in an attempt to reunite his old band, the Crusaders. Johnny visits his former bandmates – the Butcher, the Scorpion, and the Leader – hoping to convince them to perform one last concert for “Lennon”. As he pursues this quixotic dream, Johnny confronts the harsh realities of their changed lives, the weight of past mistakes, and the consequences of his impulsive theft.

Febles’ tragicomic narrative deftly explores themes of nostalgia, lost dreams, and the complex relationship between art and politics in Cuba. The play’s magical realist elements, particularly in its treatment of the Lennon statue, create a dreamlike atmosphere that blurs the lines between past and present. Through its examination of generational conflict, the power of music, and the lingering effects of repression, “The Concert” offers a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of cultural icons and the bittersweet nature of unfulfilled dreams.