Review: LIFTED, 45North (Online)
After well over a year of uncertainty and heartbreak, audiences could do with a dose of joy in their lives. And that’s what Lifted, the newly released trilogy of audio plays from 45North, is here to provide. Each of these short but sweet audio productions is a concentrated shot of humanity and humour.
First up is T4T by Tabby Lamb, an affectionate rom-com about the Trans experience set way back in the noughties. It’s a cocktail of millennial nostalgia, with references to My Chemical Romance, MySpace, Lily Allen etc. providing a counterpoint to the coming-of-age narrative. It features a pair of likeable, relatable characters navigating the murky waters of adolescence. Along the way they discover their pronouns, their identities and each other. A heart-warming delight.
Next up is Busking It by Danusia Samal. This is a (very) short autobiographical musical work adapted from Samal’s own stage show. It’s about a teenager whose “alternative upbringing” leads her into the world of busking and street musicianship. Her battle for a licence to perform in London tube stations parallels her own journey of self-discovery. The joyous, upbeat message- “If you love to sing, then you should”- proves that busking musicians have so much more to offer than mere background noise.
And last but not least is Eva Scott’s Dawn’t Stop Believing. This comic one-person play takes the form of a football podcast hosted by the perpetually upbeat Dawn Micklethwaite (Eva Scott). This is a fun, acutely-observed monologue that smacks of Victoria Wood in her prime. In it, the joys and heartache of following a football team becomes a metaphor for the human experience. This piece proves that sticking by your team through the good times and the bad is worth it for the (all-too-brief) flashes of delight.
All three plays are beautifully produced and acted. Busking It in particular boasts exquisite sound design which evokes the bustle and flow of London streets, T4T has fun with the mad squall of old-school dial-up internet and Dawn’t Stop Believing puts you right in the heart of a teeming football crowd.
Overall, Lifted is considerably more than the sum of its parts. The plays themselves are delightful, but taken as a trio they capture a sense of optimism and positivity which we could all use at the moment. Really, it’s about finding happiness wherever you can. And as they are all around 10-15 minutes apiece, these short plays are perfect for a commute, and guaranteed to put a bit of pep in your step.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Tom Mead
To listen to the plays, please click here.