Ben Harrison in the Back Stage Listening Room of The Key West Theater

Music Written by Ben Harrison

Review by Emily Berg

Harrison has shared his love of Key West through multiple stage productions and books but his latest venture brings all of his work together with a personal tone. With just a microphone and a guitar Harrison takes from his past work to paint a picture of 40 plus years on the island. The result is a 90 minute show full of humor and history told through storytelling and song.

The performance takes place in the Back Stage Listening Room of the Key West Theater. This is the perfect venue for a show like this, and simultaneously the perfect show for this venue. The space is intimate with incredible acoustics. The room seats about 60 people so it feels like a gathering of friends with all of the quality production features of a professional theater.

The show begins with Harrison recounting his arrival to Key West and the first years of playing in bars on Duval street in the late 70s, early 80s. At one point he jokes “you all can order a drink or use the bathroom. It won’t distract me. I’m well trained for it.”

The songs he shares from this early period demonstrate how some aspects of life in Key West have not changed much. The song Affordable Housing, as an example, is still very relevant as it explores a topic which affects everyone living in the Keys today, regardless of if they all realize it or not.

The song Conch Train was a particularly relatable one for myself as I find I’m often stuck behind the little train if I’m in a hurry. Everywhere I need to be seems to also be where it’s headed. A minor frustration that only grows more intense as we approach the end of a long tourism season. But an interesting thing happened while listening to Harrison sing about our “mighty little Conch Train”. I found that my feelings about the time spent behind it, going 15 MPH were recontextualized resulting in a swell of pride. After all, as Harrison points out “without the train and its caboose those tourists would be on the loose”.

But don’t let me fool you into thinking this show is just for locals. It is certainly not and those visiting the island will not only be entertained but also learn a great deal from Harrison’s performance.

Though he has a clear love and respect for this place Harrison has never shied away from exposing the darker history of Key West. In his musical Undying Love he told the story of Count Von Cosel, a doctor in Key West in the 30s and his unhealthy obsession with one of his patients before and after her death.

Harrison’s most recent work, El Isleno 1921, ran in February 2023 with The Fringe Theater at the Armory. This musical focused on the more conventional love story (certainly a more consensual one) between Manual Cabeza known as El Isleño (the islander) and Angela as they live and work in Key West in 1921. El Isleño becomes the target of local klansmen due to the mixed race relationship he shares with Angela. It’s a heavy story for sure but Harrison’s songs tell it with love and respect.

If you missed either musical during their theatrical runs this is your chance. And if you did catch the shows you’ll be delighted with the songs again while also getting some new insights from the songwriter. If you’re a fan of Undying Love you’ll be particularly happy to hear Harrison perform She Was Pickled, a real fan favorite.

Ben Harrison’s performance at the Key West Theater is simple and elegant. With a large body of work to pull from he’s able to put give a show that is both funny and edifying. It is truly not to be missed.

Three dates remain for this show; March 14 and 28 and April 19. Tickets are available at thekeywesttheater.com.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]