An Exploration of Second Chances: Graduatric Review | Ellen Leslie

★★★★

Lucy Linford’s debut stage play Graduatric is a thought-provoking two-hander exploring the importance of second chances. When outspoken Susan gets divorced from her husband of 30 years, she signs up to do a creative writing course, hoping to find out who she is in amongst writing workshops and nuanced debates with like-minded people. Instead, she is quickly isolated by the class, and they complain she is transphobic after she misgenders a classmate, and defends JK Rowling in a debate.

When she is summoned to her professor’s office, she is evasive, asking him questions about his personal life. She finds out that Daniel is gay, and that he hasn’t spoken to his mum in three decades, after she did not approve of his sexuality. While Susan badgers Daniel to reconnect with his mum, Daniel encourages her to smooth things over with her classmates.

Susan’s feelings about the breakup are complex, and when she first comes to university, she is too blinded by her own hurt and anger to work through them. There could be room for more explanation about her feelings after the divorce and a clearer explanation of how she learned about her spouse’s transition. She writes about it in her book, but as we only hear snippets in her conversations, it’s difficult to piece together exactly what happened.

It might seem brave for Linford to stage a play where a key plot point involves a woman accused of transphobia considering the issue is very controversial, but the play isn’t really about this. It’s more about the power of human connection, and listening to people with different experiences from ourselves. After a quick debrief about the incident, and Susan questioning Daniel about why it’s okay for him to have a poster of Harry Potter in his office but not okay for her to defend the author, the topic isn’t really discussed again: it focuses on their personal problems.

There is great character development in the play, particularly in the case of Susan. At the start, she is stubborn and stuck in her ways, but she slowly takes Daniel’s advice, and connects with her peers. It is so lovely to see her blossom over the course of the show. Daniel’s development isn’t quite as strong. Although he does connect with his family, it is disappointing to hear that he made a joke at Susan’s expense to his colleagues near the end of the play. I would have liked to see a bit more friendship between them both considering they have such good chemistry together.

Well written and thought-provoking, Graduatric emphasises the power of human connection and empathy following debates and arguments. It shows how messy and imperfect humans can be, and proves that a little kindness and forgiveness can go a long way.

Graduatric will be performed at theSpace at Surgeons’ Hall – Stephenson Theatre from 24-29 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.

By Ellen Leslie