Lifeline
Lifeline is a recent Scottish folk musical exploring the importance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) awareness. The show has been on quite the journey itself, from 2 Edinburgh Fringe productions to Off-Broadway, all the way to this current London debut, so safe to say it is a success. The story follows the love stories 70 years apart, one of Alexander Fleming (the inventor of Penicillian) and the scientist, and eventual second wife, Amalia Koutsouri-Vourekas, and the other of a modern day couple who faces the consequences of AMR. The cast is filled with actual scientists and medical professionals, and highlights the importance of not taking medical advancements for granted, especially when they could disappear.
What I liked
As an overall facet, I love the messages of this show. The 2 core couples have classic love stories, but the overarching messages explore the importance of proper medical care and scientific innovation. I had no concerns about the technical language used, and the warnings about public safety were neither preachy nor condescending. I especially liked how these messages were introduced, with the song Mr X, You’re Next simultaneously showing the appreciation for doctors providing medicine but also the paranoia that people have that leads them to misuse medicine (like googling your symptoms and distrusting doctors who give “weak” prescriptions).
The performances were all fantastic, and it was a fantastic touch to have an ensemble made up of working scientists and health professionals! The main cast were all spectacular, I especially loved Kelly Glyptis’s performance, and her operatic singing voice. Another highlight was Jasmine Jules Andrews, whose presence was almost magnetic in every small role she portrayed.
The movement work of the show was also lovely, reasonably understated but impactful, and I think there was some integration of sign language which I think is a nice touch.
What wasn’t my favourite
Admittedly I felt that some of the songs in the first act weren’t very impactful, and had a somewhat same-y feeling. The concept album has helped me recall these tracks, but I still think many of them have more of a “general pop vibe” than a musical story telling impact.
Also, a very small note - “he’s too unstable for a CT scan” was said in act 1, and it was the first thing my partner and I discussed in the interval, because unless he’s going to die right now or having seizures, that’s wild. CT is a very quick scan and you just need to be still, so a very tired man fighting an infection after surgery would be fine. Once again, a tiny, tiny note.
Overall
This is a fantastic show, and an incredible piece of work to intercept musical theatre and science. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love another album to be released with all the songs. With the oversaturated market of movie-adaptation musicals with very simplistic messages, this was a breath of fresh air that I think deserves a larger audience.
