Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Cautionary tales for the here and now: PRETTY PERFECT LIVES and LIFELINE THE MUSICAL

• By drediman
• September 6, 2024
• No Comments

This past week at the theater, I had the chance to catch a pair of cautionary tales, both tailor-made for the here and now. Read on for my thoughts on these two late summer Off-Broadway offerings.

PRETTY PERFECT LIVES
The Flea Theater
Through September 8

First up is Gage Tarlton’s new play Pretty Perfect Lives (RECOMMENDED) at The Flea Theater. Unfolding in a single compact act, the work is in short an astute critique of social media culture and its capacity to undermine our inherent humanity. More specifically, it tells the cautionary story of a couple — Tiffany and Tucker (a Barbie and Ken proxy, if there ever was one), both addicted to social media — whose public romance spins out of control when they decide to open up their relationship in order for Tucker to more fully explore his sexuality. In the process, they allow a third character (the mysterious, seductive, yet vulnerable Jesse) to inject himself into the mix. In setting up the play, Tarlton provides audiences a razor sharp sociological critique that brilliantly straddles parody and real life. It’s in the play’s more philosophical second half that things get more metaphysical — and, admittedly, a bit confounding. Nevertheless, the playwright pointedly suggests in these latter scenes the capacity of social media to engulf us. In terms of the acting, the performances by the production’s trio of young, attractive actors — Elizabeth Mail as Tiffany, Zane Phillips as Tucker, and Nic Ashe as Jesse — are, by and large, very good. Indeed, each manages to work on a number of levels, particularly doing well to balance surface-level social media caricature and the portrayal of the complexity of human nature. As directed by Gabi Carrubba, Pretty Perfect Lives is a sleek vision, complete with nifty lighting, projection, and sound work (unsurprisingly, the overall vibe of the staging is strongly reminiscent of The Matrix films).

LIFELINE THE MUSICAL
Pershing Square Signature Center
Through September 28

Over at the Pershing Square Signature Center, you’ll find Edinburgh-based Charades Theatre Company’s production of Lifeline (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED), a new musical which has arrived Off-Broadway after having played well-sold stints at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Washington, DC. There’s no denying the immense ambition that fuels Alex Howarth and Jess Conway’s show. Featuring a book by Becky Hope-Palmer and a score by Robin Hiley, the musical chronicles Alexander Fleming’s game-changing discovery of penicillin in 1928 alongside a contemporary tale that cautions audiences of the increasing dangers of antibiotic resistance. Despite its good intentions, the musical as a whole ultimately suffers from seemingly having too many cooks in the kitchen, manifesting itself in its overly complicated storytelling and busy staging. In short, Lifeline registers very much like a fringe show — which it is — both in terms of performance quality and its undaunted willingness to shoot for the moon. Of the cast, by far the strongest performers, dramatically and vocally, are Kirsty MacLaren (as a conscientious young doctor in the present day portion) and Matthew Malthouse (as Fleming), who headline each of the two narrative strands. Given the merits of the pleasant score — a heartfelt and earnest (and overamplified) blend of rock and Scottish folk tunes — I nevertheless can’t help feeling that the piece would probably come across more effectively as a simply-staged straight play. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of Lifeline is its eagerness to educate audiences and show appreciation for healthcare workers. Indeed, their involvement and presence as onstage observers to the proceedings is an inspired touch.