Lothian Life | AJ Clay
24 Aug 2025
★★★★ | A chance encounter can often be rewarding, and so it was when I accidentally stumbled on Northwestern University’s slice-of-life Appalachian musical inspired by Craigslist listings…
The Southside Bar in rural Kentucky is closing down soon, and its staff and regulars reminisce on the good and bad times they’ve had there. With a huge cast and a modestly sized stage, they make good use of the space in terms of choreo, and the group harmonies are delightful.
From exes awkwardly encountering each other again to the lesbian student longing for her best friend and the well-meaning but blunt religious regular Earl, their brief meetings and partings are conveyed with passion. Everyone’s voices are superb, though it would have been good to give them a little more amplification in the quiet sections.
The small-town drama is soundtracked by a talented live band who bring the gentle, uplifting songs to life. I enjoyed their weaving in and out of the cast, swapping instruments and sometimes leaving and entering the theatre still playing their guitars. I left feeling like I’d had a warm hug in musical form.
With Missed Connections Rachel Weintraub has created a real gem.