Does a play need to reach a conclusion or even express a point of view?
These thought came to me while I was watching the highly entertaining ‘The History Boys’ presented at the Nomad Theatre at the beginning of the month. This play can be interpreted at many levels and Alan Bennett’s brilliant and acclaimed script can be appreciated at many levels. Written at the height of Thatcher’s Britain it nevertheless had echoes of an earlier age when Bennett himself was a scholarship contender in a lesser northern grammar school. Despite the superficial tea drinking, sentimental image associated with his relationship with Thora Hird and expressed in ‘Talking Heads’, ’40 Yeas On’ and his adaptation of ‘Wind in the Willows’. Bennett’s work is underlain with acerbic wit and comment. This, after all, is he man who refused both a CBE and a Knighthood..
‘The History Boys’ garnered a hatful of awards at the 2006 Tony’s - best play, best actor (Richard Griffiths), best supporting actor (Frances de la Tour)…Deservedly so! Scathing asperity, uproarious farce, sexual innuendo, pathos, regret for a past age. You name it and it was there in this superb play. Nineteen year old director, Nathan Farrell clearly not only loved the play but had closely studied all the undercurrents running throughout. He tied up a complicated script so tidily that no seams showed.
We have a group of sixth formers swotting for entrance to Oxbridge under the (sometimes) too benevolent instruction of the General Studies master, Hector, whose role played by newcomer Ian Creese, would not lose by comparison with Richard Griffiths His chief protagonists are Dorothy Lintoff, the traditional, feminist and repressed History teacher (lovely portrayal by Lisa Arnold) and interloper brought in to coach the candidates in tricks of the interview, Irwin (Francis Pindar who is rapidly maturing as an actor although I would have liked a more flamboyant character). The Headmaster, played straight by the experienced Richard Peachey is only interested in his school’s league position. Richard was brilliantly bewildered in the scene played entirely in French where his inability to keep up (his qualification, after all, was in Geography) rivalled my own. I particularly enjoyed the attempted seduction scene between Dakin and Irwin.
A great feature of Nathan’s production was the integrated ensemble playing of the boys who demonstrated what stage-teamwork really means. The concentration and attention to details in costume and behaviour surely took us all back to our classroom. It would be unfair to select “stars” among them but the bisexual Dakin (Johnny Craze, another newcomer), who has equal success with the girls, his classmates and even his teachers, was excellent. As was Scripps (Richie Halsey-Watson) and Oliver Byng’s stillness as Posner. Every one of the team had their central moment in the drama and added to the whole. Congratulations, then to Laurence Eastorn,. Benji Gavan, Daniel Shepherd, Ashley Gillard and Stuart Tomkins who deserve their own write-up which space unfortunately forbids.. A fine team of young actors assembled primarily through the medium of Face Book and the Nomad website
Act One is episodic as we meet and get to know the players in the game; it suffers from a lack of narrative structure and I much preferred Act Two where the threads came together to create a very satisfying conclusion (for the boys at any rate)) by which six of the seven pupils gain entrance to university and (the twist) the non-academic but sporting Rudge also achieves entrance by the back door.
Clever use of black and white video intermissions enhanced the action; the sets, simple, effective and rapid changing courtesy of the ever reliable Amy Stringer, met the desired object as did the lighting (George Vey) and sound (Charles Hope) with traditional Yorkshire brass band backing.
The programme was designed to look like a school Year Book but needed a Cast List and more background to the play. But this is a small point.
Well done, Nathan, and everyone concerned.
Among the many encomiums The History Boys’ has received is this one from an email to the website
Brilliant Acting!
Brilliant Acting!
Last night’s performance of the History Boys was absolutely first class. Praise and thanks to all the marvellous cast, who excelled themselves, each and every one. I have seen Ian Creese in many different performances over the years, with many different groups, he is always very good, but last night he absolutely excelled! I’m sure one couldn’t have seen a better cast in the West End! Well done everyone,and thank you so much for this memorable evening.
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