Have you ever seen a play that was so instructive you wanted everyone, happy or sad, to see it? Well, congratulations. I have found just the play for you! Actually, it found me. I was curious about what constituted a “lifeline” in these times. And Lifeline, the play, lays out what it is, why it is, and something about the people who so unselfishly give their time to make it happen. It is a tribute to the Road Theatre Company that they have provided the space for this instructive look at “988,” California’s mental health hotline.
In the Road’s sumptuous space, located at the NoHo Senior Arts Center, the stage has been transformed by designer Desma Murphy into an unpretentious LGBTQ space, where this particular “lifeline” operates. The two veteran trainers, Drew (Tommy Dickie) and Jeen (Brittany Taylor Visser), prepare to meet their latest group of operators who will take shifts at the lifeline when folks in distress call in. They explain that the LGBTQ community has particular problems to address. And, as it seems, each volunteer has his or her own reasons for their participation as well. Patti (Amy Tolsky), in particular, has a compelling reason for volunteering, which proves to be the thread that stitches the play together. Through the intertwining stories of each participant, from Clinton J. Adams as Kai, to Xoe Sassle as Maya, and Naomi Rubin as Sarah Beth, the volunteers prove their mettle in order to help desperate callers.
To round out the production, playwright Robert Axelrod and director Ken Sawyer have enlisted the aid of composer/musicians Jon Chase and Lou Roy, who provides musical interludes and accompaniments where needed. The rest of the production team has flawlessly assembled all the necessary pieces of the production puzzle: Notable are the lighting (Matthew Richter) and projections (Nicholas Santiago) which must work hand-in-hand to prevent lighting bleed, while properly illuminating eclectic costuming by Mary Jane Miller. All in all, it’s a well-developed and executed production of a meaningful play taken from the experience of its playwright. It’s as rewarding as it is engrossing.
Lifeline continues at The Road Theatre in the NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd, in North Hollywood, running Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through March 14, 2026. All Tickets, $39, with $25 seats for Seniors and $17 for students. For information, call (818) 761-8838, with online ticketing: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35065/production/1258741.
