The History Boys

merriman Productions

 

The History Boys                   The Rondo Theatre, Bath              October 26th 2018

Director: Graeme Savage                                      Assistant Director: Abi Cousins

Piano solos and accompaniments recorded by Tom Carradine.

This play, by Alan Bennett, is set in a fictional Sheffield Boys Grammar School in 1983 and follows a group of History students preparing for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance examinations.  During the play, we see two teachers who have very different approaches to learning, teach the boys.  Mr Hector, who has taught at the school for many years and is rather eccentric and delights in knowledge for its own sake, and Mr Irwin a young intelligent supply teacher, who has a more focussed, ruthless style of teaching, which concentrates on getting the boys through their exams.  Mrs Linnott a third member of the history team believes that the boys should have a firm foundation of facts, but we do not see her teaching the boys.

There was one permanent set, which was reminiscent of a classroom of an old established school with décor dating back decades, with noticeboard, posters, a piano at the back, bookcases, a table and chair for the teacher and tables and chairs for the pupils, all arranged so that we could see their faces.  The lighting had been well designed so the whole set or individual areas could be lit as required thus avoiding scene changes.  A play like this can become disjointed, as the action is not continuous as it moves from day to day; but through swift entrances and exits and actors remaining frozen in the dark while action continued across the stage, it maintained a good flow.  Costumes were all appropriate for the play and era. 

The play had been well cast with everyone confident in their roles.  Steve Blackmore as the Headmaster; Chris Parslow, as Mr Hector, the older teacher with all his eccentricities; Dan Masters, as Mr Irwin, the young supply teacher; and Nicky Shipton as Mrs Lintott, who had seen it all, and had a slightly caustic view on life but was a good listener. 

The boys worked extremely well as a team, they all supported each other and played off each other’s strengths.  The way it is written there are several more dominant characters but they need the strong support of the others and it would be unfair to single out anyone as they all relied heavily on each other to bring out their characters.  Each actor had worked hard to understand their character and how they interacted with the others.

Director Graeme Savage had brought together a talented group of actors who handled some difficult topics and long speeches with confidence and conviction.  They all worked well together really supporting each other and their commitment shone through.  The songs were well sung and music between scenes well chosen.

There was a good deal of humour, which was well handled, with the scene in French being a gem.  It was a well-directed play with plenty of light and shade and good pace and the audience really enjoyed it.  Congratulations everyone.

 

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