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Synopsis Rachel and Peter have been going out for six months. Then Rachel gets ill, and doesn't want the attentions of her mother or friends, just Peter. Peter doesn't know what he wants, but he thinks he can make Rachel better. When You Cure Me was commissioned by The Bush Theatre.
First love is hard at the best of times, all those teenage hormones bouncing around. But poor Peter is walking a tightrope, the uneasy path between boyfriend and carer since his girlfriend, Rachel, was attacked.
In Jack Thorne’s play we, like Rachel, are confined to her bedroom. The psychological effect of the assault has manifested as an inability to use her legs, so she remains in bed throughout.
Penelope Challen’s naturalistic set, with posters on the walls and the soft pastel colours of a young girl’s room remind us of the conflict between Rachel’s adolescence and youth, and the unnaturalness of her attack; she may look like a woman but she still retains the trappings and innocence of girlhood. All Rachel’s confused emotions are heavily laid at Peter’s door, a sensitive boy who cares almost too much and is trying to negotiate his new role and the dangerous ground between Rachel and her Mother.
This is a tender play about the fragility of relationships and is played out superbly by a strong cast in Mike Bradwell’s production. Morven Christie is suitably dislikeable as Rachel, so hard on Peter and her Mother, but trying to come to terms with what’s happened, fighting now when she didn’t then.
Samuel Barnett lives up to his Whatsonstage.com Award of last year, turning in an incredibly detailed performance, beautifully nuanced, which grows from apologetic boy towards a stronger adolescent. It’s so accomplished that it belies his years.
Daniel Bayle and Lisa McDonald in their professional stage debuts are highly amusing as a pair of unwanted visitors. School peers of Rachel and Peter their banter and casual abuse is an uncomfortably accurate recreation of the nightmare of adolescence.
Thorne writes all the characters, young and old, male and female with surprising accuracy. He captures perfectly all the layers that coexist within human relationships, and although the resolution the audience so strongly desire never comes, this only serves to make the piece more though-provoking.
A quite remarkable play - thoughtful, deatiled, moving account of the relationship of two teenagers in the wake of the girl's rape. Wonderful acting. Enthralling. - 80.177.231.164)
08 Dec 05
Another great evening at The Bush. It's a strange subject / story to dramatise, but what makes it so enthralling is wonderful characterisation. You really get under the skin of these people and watch relationships grow and change as if you had spent weeks in their company. Don't miss this little gem. - 86.134.81.1)
A small theatre with a mighty reputation! A premiere new writing theatre, The Bush has discovered and produced some of the most important playwrights, directors and actors over the last 30 years. Bush alumni include Conor MacPherson, Anthony Neilson, Bob Hoskins, Alan Rickman, Catherine Johnson, Julie Walters, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Bean and many many more. Only new plays are produced at this intimate (100 seat) venue on Shepherd's Bush Green and The Bush reads every script it is sent - currently 1500 a year, commissions up to 7 new plays a year and works with young writers to develop their skills. If you want to see the best, first - see it at The Bush. Due to move and operate from the old Shepherd's Bush Library in 2011 with an inaugural season in the autumn.
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