History Boys

There are three productions of Alan Bennett’s wonderful play in Edinburgh this year. QETC, an English language theatre company based in the Netherlands take it on in almost it’s full length here – very unusual for a play at the Fringe Festival. It is a play of mighty themes and deep emotions, and for it to work effectively needs strong and mature performances from all.The story revolves around a special group of sixth formers at a northern school in the early eighties, being prepared for their Oxbridge entrance exams by their irascible old teacher, Hector. His unorthodox teaching methods have never been much approved of by the Headmaster, who seizes the opportunity to employ a younger blade. Bennett weaves an extraordinary tale of how young minds can be formed by teachers from an early age, and poses the big question – what is education for? Actually, that’s just one of the themes explored; what’s the point of art, what is it to love and be loved, and of course, if we don’t learn from the past, what is the point of history? The wit of the writing is staggering, as is the profundity of some of these themes explored and laid bare. It’s also very, very funny, or it should be.It’s the humour that’s really missing from this production. There were a few laughs along the way, but long stretches of mirthless time. This should be almost impossible with an Alan Bennett script. The acting is patchy. James Johnson as the saddest of the class, Posner, has his moments (‘I’m Jewish, small, homosexual and from Sheffield. I’m fucked’,) and Margaret Kennedy gives a subtle, though vocally underpowered performance as the cynical but kind teacher Dorothy. The rest of the acting is weakish, though playing ‘sex god’ Dakin, Luke Lane has his moments, but needs to exhibit a bit more arrogance. The day I saw it the lighting went completely wrong, and the set and staging are clumsy. The production is saved, however, by Brian Andre as Hector. I’ve seen several productions of this play, including the original cast at the National, and for me this actor is the best I've seen, perfectly balancing the man’s passion for education and zest for the potential life has to offer with the sadness of his own closeted existence in a loveless marriage, which leads him to furtively fondling his young charges.I think this is a magnificent hough flawed play. I sometimes don’t believe in the world. As someone who was at an all boys’ school myself in the eighties I don’t buy into conversations about lads having crushes on each other, or talking about having sex with male teachers or, most crucially as it is a major plot point, tolerating a teacher fondling them in turn as he gives them a ride home on his motorbike. This is more the school world Bennett might himself have inhabited in the Leeds of his youth, or the clichéd ethos of public schools, especially a few decades ago. None the less, the themes and ideas it explores are amazing, and all done with the author’s unique band of wit, humanity and non-judgemental spirit. If you’ve never seen it before, then give this production a go, though there are two others to choose from.