Tag Archives: Alan Bennett

THE HISTORY BOYS

★★★★

UK Tour

Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

THE HISTORY BOYS at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

★★★★

“an enjoyable and important revival of a play that has become a modern classic”

Alan Bennett’s much-loved play celebrates the 20th anniversary of its National Theatre first performance with a new production and a national tour (Director Seán Linnen). The period is firmly established from the outset with walk-in music made up of 1980s bangers – Soft Cell, The Human League, Pet Shop Boys – and we hear more of this throughout the show (Sound Designer Russell Ditchfield).

The set (Grace Smart) is the outside of a grim grey building – Cutlers’ Grammar School for Boys, Sheffield – which when it revolves will let us into a classroom laid out with plain square tables and the ugliest red plastic, stackable chairs.

A line-up of eight boys enters performing rather nicely a close harmony, doo-wop number before breaking into their schoolboy characters. Music is an important part of this production (Musical Director Eamonn O’Dwyer), some of it embedded into the plot, at other times as entr’acte music during scene changes. The onus in the solo numbers falls on the vulnerable, questioning character of Posner (Lewis Cornay). Cornay’s made in heaven harmonies soar above the ensemble and his solo performance of Rodgers & Hart’s ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ is truly beautiful. Not forgetting Yazdan Qafouri as Scripps playing the piano quite brilliantly too.

The plot centres on the differing teaching methods of the nearing-retirement Hector (Simon Rouse) and the newbie Irwin (Bill Milner) as they coach the eight sixth formers towards their Oxbridge entrance exams. But the importance of the play and the main interest lies in the developments of each character. Being teenagers, conversation revolves much around sex and we hear a blow-by-blow account of Dakin’s (Archie Christoph-Allen) conquest of the school secretary. But there is also common knowledge of Hector’s fondness for fondling the private parts of his pupils whilst they ride pillion on his motorbike home from school. Despite this being a period piece, the casual acceptance by the boys that this is acceptable behaviour, makes me extremely uncomfortable. It takes the words of the only female teacher Mrs Lintott (Gillian Bevan) – “a grope is still a grope” – to voice out loud that what Hector is doing is wrong. Bevan’s no-nonsense approach to the role allows us to believe that she alone is the wise one amongst the school staff. The Headmaster best described by Mrs Lintott as “a twat” is played perfectly in this manner by Milo Twomey – approaching Basil Fawlty levels of hysteria when roused.

Two important intimate scenes: Posner looks for solace from Hector and Dakin’s attempt to mislead Irwin lack the necessary poignancy for full effect. It is the schoolboy ensemble that is most impressive – the natural chatter between classes and the laddish hijinks – and Timms (Teddy Hinde) stands out of the crowd with just the right amount of cheek and arrogance. A showstopper number of Stand and Deliver despite a lot of banging, stamping and chair-fighting lacks sufficient punch (Movement Director Chi-San Howard). Amplification of the singing might help.

The biggest laugh of the night comes from Rudge’s (Ned Costello) assertion that “History is just one fucking thing after another” claimed with a down to earthiness that, after nearly three hours on stage, this feels just about right.

This is an enjoyable and important revival of a play that has become a modern classic but at times, the highs don’t quite reach high enough and the emotional parts don’t quite reach deep enough.

 


THE HISTORY BOYS at the Cambridge Arts Theatre then UK tour continues

Reviewed on 1st October 2024

by Phillip Money

Photography by Marc Brenner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

REBUS: A GAME CALLED MALICE | ★★★ | September 2024
CLUEDO 2: THE NEXT CHAPTER | ★★ | March 2024
MOTHER GOOSE | ★★★★ | December 2023
FAITH HEALER | ★★★ | October 2023
A VOYAGE AROUND MY FATHER | ★★★ | October 2023
FRANKENSTEIN | ★★★★ | October 2023
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION | ★★★ | March 2023
THE HOMECOMING | ★★★★★ | April 2022
ANIMAL FARM | ★★★★ | February 2022
ALADDIN | ★★★★ | December 2021

THE HISTORY BOYS

THE HISTORY BOYS

Click here to see our Recommended Shows page

 

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus

★★★

Menier Chocolate Factory

Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus

Menier Chocolate Factory

Reviewed – 14th December 2021

★★★

 

“some of the laughs are misplaced today, but with a nod to its self-mocking humour, there is no doubt it is entertaining”

 

There is a jet-black coffin centre stage throughout Patrick Marber’s staging of Alan Bennett’s seminal seventies farce, “Habeas Corpus”. Symbolic or not of whether this revival will survive the kiss of life Marber smothers it with, its prominence is a distraction rather than a subtle reminder of Bennett’s underlying themes of mortality. “Habeas Corpus” is a play with two personalities; at once naturalistic, even touching the human chord, yet at the same time, a farce. The quiet, introverted musings on life are nearly always drowned out by the brash energy and seaside naughtiness of the comedy.

And energy is what this production certainly has, the key ingredient of farce – along with the extra marital shenanigans, mistaken identities, absurd situations, challenged respectability, and characters without their trousers. We are in GP Arthur Wicksteed’s home surgery in Hove. Richard Hudson’s blank, stark set allow us to imagine the draping of misogyny and sexism with which the doctor has furnished his house. We are introduced to the players by Ria Jones’ Mrs Swabb. Wicksteed would be a far more successful physician if he pursued his career as diligently as he pursues women. His wife, Muriel, is more assertive while his son is a timid hypochondriac who uses a fake terminal illness as a chat up line. Enter Connie, who has ordered a false pair of breasts to boost her confidence. Lady Rumpus is an expatriate, colonial figure, protective of her daughter Felicity while Canon Throbbing is a frustrated celibate who… well – his name says it all. Then there is Mr Shanks who arrives to fit Connie’s breasts, Sir Percy Shorter, a leading light in the medical profession out for revenge and Mr Purdue, a sick man who hangs over the proceedings like (and sometimes in) a noose.

Jasper Britton adds a bit of charm to his dated salaciousness. There is enough irony there to forgive him (the actor rather than the character). Catherine Russell’s Muriel has a light-hearted sparkle that occasionally flickers to reveal a more profound hurting. Kirsty Besterman is a joy to watch as the ‘spinster’ who believes the only way to a man’s heart is through her body; a tenet that is constantly reinforced by the men in the piece. Mercifully the entire cast play on the dated perceptions and, again, we forgive. The sheer entertainment value carries us along.

The sensation is like revisiting, after many years, a favourite pub that has since been refurbished. The new décor clashes with the fondness of memory. Marber has added a few twists that jar. Occasionally the poetic language bizarrely morphs into surreal song routines. The sadness and the cruelty behind the comedy are more hidden than they should be. Yet nostalgia is unreliable. Perhaps Bennett’s text was flawed back in the seventies. Perhaps not. Perhaps it still isn’t, and it is the times we live in that force us to judge it unfavourably. But that is another debate. If “Habeas Corpus” is a farce it certainly fulfils its purpose. Yes, some of the laughs are misplaced today, but with a nod to its self-mocking humour, there is no doubt it is entertaining. We just need to avoid politicisation for a couple of hours, be aware that all concerned have their tongue in their cheek, and enjoy.

 

Reviewed by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Manuel Harlan

 


Habeas Corpus

Menier Chocolate Factory until 27th February

 

Previously reviewed at this venue this year:
Brian and Roger | ★★★★★ | November 2021

 

Click here to see our most recent reviews