Alan Bennett’s The History Boys follows eight English schoolboys as they vie for places at Oxford and Cambridge, with the help of their teachers, Hector (John Wood), Irwin (James Mackay) and Mrs Lintott (Heather Mitchell). Set in the 1980s, this popular coming-of-age tale (previously adapted for the screen) explores themes such as the malleability of history, teenage homosexuality, sexual abuse, and the virtue of impulsiveness. However, in this production directed by Jesse Peach the era was indistinct; the only indicators of the period were the occasional cultural reference and Mrs Lintott’s puffy sleeves. English accents wavered or were non-existent.
The staging of the play was minimalistic, which focussed attention on the fast-paced conversations between the boys. The arrangement and re-arrangement of eight chairs and a table did not distract, even when the actors smoothly and clearly transitioned between scenes. A piano on the left of the stage provided the only and occasional musical score. The young actors seemed confident in their movements and successfully embodied their roles as final term schoolboys: chewing gum, bantering, wrestling and all.
A drawback was that the audience wasn’t able to get to know all of the schoolboys. The majority of them are underdeveloped, neglected in favour of Posner (Matthew Backer) and Dakin (Lindsay Farris). The occasional insight into characters such as Scripps (Aaron Tsindos) occurs through the use of brief, spotlighted monologues, wherein they artificially disclose aspects of the plot that are later revealed in a more organic fashion. As an audience we didn’t need to be told that Posner is romantically interested in Dakin, we can see it in his every action.
The adult characters are fully fleshed out, complex and, at times, difficult to comprehend; such is certainly the case with Hector and Irwin. Paul Goddard as Headmaster Armstrong steals attention from his co-stars, despite only appearing in a few scenes. His foul language and apparent lack of tact lend humour to what could otherwise be quite dense themes.
But it is the wit and playfulness of the boys’ interactions – with each other and with their teachers – that make the play so interesting to watch. Although it purports to be about the nature of history, that message is at some points muddled. It could instead be suggested that what we’re really witness to is the development of masculine camaraderie, as well as the realisation that life does not always go as planned.
There was potential for this production to shed a new light on the subject matter, or to reinvent the play for an Australian audience. Peach chose not to take this opportunity by staying utterly faithful to Bennett’s screenplay. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing – reinvention often opens the door to failure.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The History Boys
By Alan Bennett
Director: Jesse Peach
Costume Design: Tim Chappel
Lighting Design: Matthew Marshall
Cast: John Wood, Heather Mitchell, Paul Goddard, James Mackay, Lindsay Farris, Aaron Tsindos, Simon Brook McLachlan, Caleb Alloway, James Elliott, Matthew Backer, Gary Brun and Matt Hardie
Running time: 180 mins (inc. 20 min interval)
Playhouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House
13 February – 2 March
