Cured @ The Arches

Stef Smith’s latest play tackles the idea of conversion therapy. While very prominent in the US at one point in time, the 'ex-gay' movement has never significantly crossed the Atlantic. Yet what if it had?

Cured doesn’t tackle the issue head on, but rather looks at Susan, who is having doubts about her sexuality around her 40th birthday. Her mother claims it’s a midlife crisis, and, at first, openly disapproves of her decision to come out.

Admittedly, aside from her age, a romantic disappointment, and her mother's open disapproval when she finally does come out, there seems to be no extremely oppressive force that would drive her to the point of wanting to undergo conversion therapy. Of course, this suggests – perhaps rightly – that our mind is the biggest obstacle to enjoying life. Nonetheless, with the absence of clear context, it is difficult to understand exactly why she turns up at the clinic. However, this is not a failing of the play, as it provokes many more questions about homosexuality, coming out, and the stereotypes broken and offered up by phenomena such as The L Word (TV series), or the book (and mini-series) Tipping the Velvet. Cured also dips into discussions about awardwinning sitcom The Golden Girls, reflecting the relationship between real life and fiction. 

Overall, the play is quite smart, comical, and quite accessible for people who might not understand what it means to be gay or lesbian. The choice to use one actor for multiple roles could quickly become confusing, but the talented pair (Julie Hale, Mary Gapinski), aided by intelligent direction by Ros Philips, make each character very clear in the interaction between them.