UK Theatre Network

It usually takes a long time for a play to become a “classic” but Alan Bennett’s The History Boys has already gained that title – and from this new production it is easy to see why.

When the original production has won three Olivier Awards, six Tony Awards amongst countless others, it gives this new cast a lot to live up to – and they do. And not only do the cast come up to the award winning standards of their predecessors, but so too do the production team. Janet Bird has created a fantastic set that is deceptively simple but extremely versatile. Christopher Luscombe’s deft direction is apparent in many highly charged scenes. Moments of silence or stillness are used to great effect to create the right levels of tension.

To get these effects across to the audience however takes more than directorial skill, it needs accomplished acting talent. Gerard Murphy is a delight to watch as Hector the enigmatic and irreverent General Studies teacher who seems to be more of a friend to the boys than a teacher, despite his misdemeanours and advancing years. His joyful moments with the boys are great fun, and his moments of sadness genuinely moving. The combination of Bennett’s skill in writing the character and Mr Murphy’s performance make the audience sympathetic to a character which they should genuinely be disgusted with. These sensibilities are tested with many of the characters, who either instigate or turn a blind eye to behaviour which is deemed reprehensible.

Exceptional performances from James Byng (Posner) and Ben Lambert (Irwin) both playing out different forms of unrequited love alongside the energy of Kyle Redmond-Jones as their object of affection, the cocksure Dakin provides many more moments of tension and angst. Alongside the musical talents of Rob Delaney (Scripps) on piano, Byng’s voice adds to his character’s melancholy with a performance of “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”. However as with all Alan Bennett plays, the highlights are in the dry wit and humour. A French lesson where the entire scene is spoken in French ends up with the class physically portraying a “maison de passé” (brothel!) and being interrupted by the headmaster! Even with a poor understanding of French (it has been a long time since school for me!) the whole scene made perfect sense. The less academic of the boys Rudge (Peter McGovern) also provides another Alan Bennett classic with his definition of History as “one fucking thing after another”. With the addition of an elegant and witty performance from Penelope Beaumont as Mrs Lintott, the only female influence in the play, we are given a diverse group of characters with which to laugh and learn.

As a play that will no doubt soon find itself studied and quoted as much as the plays to which it refers within itself, I’d encourage everyone to see this production of what has earned the right to be called a modern classic.

Listings Info

Mon 10^th – Sat 15^th May

Mon – Sat Eves 7.30pm

Thurs & Sat Mat 2.30pm

Tickets £12-£27

Box Office: 0844 871 7647                  www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow