10 | thethreepennycarmenproductionnote Scene two begins as Don José, who has recently been released from prison, returns to see Carmen at The Threepenny Tavern, where they reconcile (“Je vais danser en votre honneur” or “Now I shall dance for your reward”). Don José’s mind begins to wander toward his sick mother while Carmen attempts to keep his attention through song, “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” (“The flower you threw at me”), which is interrupted by Micaëla’s “Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” (“I say that nothing shall deter me”). Scene three introduces Escamillo, a toreador, who serenades Carmen with his song, “Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” (The Toreador Song: “For a toast, your own will avail me”). Don José’s jealousy prompts him to confront Escamillo, who leaves instead of engaging. Don José and Carmen argue, but Micaëla ultimately interrupts and finally convinces Don José to return to his mother. The final scene reveals that Don José was too late to see his mother before her death. Defeated, Don José again heads to The Threepenny Tavern, where Carmen and her friends sing “Mêlons! Coupons!” (The Card Trio: “Shuffle! Cut them!”). Carmen sees her death as she reads her fortune in the cards. Fulfilling this fortune, Don José kills her, and the curtain closes. Carmen’s freedom—as a woman and as an artist— empowers and inspires passion. She maintains her right to perform amidst a pandemic, not allowing mere circumstances to prevent her self-expression. Her art inspires passion—sometimes so much passion that it leads to the downfall of those who deem themselves above her. Not even those who claim to have control over her—law enforcement, cops—can rob her of her freedom. Instead, her freedom overpowers them. Carmen is liberty. While Padmé Amidila condemns those who applaud the death of liberty, in our case perhaps there is good reason for applause at the end of Carmen. We do not applaud the death of liberty because we are glad to see
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