The History Boys
20th Anniversary tour seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
This is the 20th anniversary production of Alan Bennett's "The History Boys", a popular, funny and clever play that amply demonstrates Bennett's skill at wordplay, humour and pathos. It also demonstrates a core idea from the play, that history changes with time, we re-interpret events of the past according to our own changing social norms and understanding. Thus, Hector, the teacher at the centre of the play, is now seen more as an abuser and less as an enlightened teacher. Hector's predilection for giving the boys a squeeze, their acceptance and acknowledgement of that and the reactions of the other teachers seem out of place today - 20 years ago they were just as wrong but Hector would perhaps not have been demonised in the same way. It is, as they say in the play, partly a matter of context.
Having said all that, this is a lively and beautifully paced production with an energetic and committed cast. There are some excellently delivered sequences (e.g. the end of Brief Encounters) and Lewis Cornay (Posner) has a terrific voice.
Definitely an ensemble piece highly reliant on the performances of the "boys" but requiring sympathetic and credible performances from the teachers too. Loved the set and the music, great energy and beautiful delivery.
A wonderful production of what has perhaps become a slightly difficult, but worthwhile, play.