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.