Twenty years ago, The History Boys by Alan Bennett premiered at the National Theatre in London. It immediately became a modern classic, even being voted the Nation’s favourite play. After watching Sean Linnen’s version last night, I can wholeheartedly say I understand this.
The History Boys is running at Richmond Theatre from 29th October to 2ndNovember, and in my opinion is a truly unmissable experience. With remarkable sensitivity and precision, Sean Linnen perfectly recreates a classroom environment, with the mutual support between the boys displayed clearly throughout the play, so much so that I felt a part of their lighthearted joking, and so did the rest of the audience if the consistent chuckles all around me were anything to go by. Never before have I felt so personally involved and included in a play. What genuinely unique work!
Gillian Benevan as Mrs Lintott was every part the matronly schoolteacher, so much so that when she was on ‘playground duty’ and she outstretched a finger to tell someone off, I felt afraid! But as a character, Mrs Lintott also has depth, something Benevan created so beautifully that by the end of the play, I was truly fond of Mrs Lintott.
Similarly, Simon Rouse played Hector perfectly. He expertly blended warmth, complexity and emotional depth. His interpretation of Hector truly exhibited his love of knowledge, adding all the more gravity to his role as the flawed mentor. I have never been so unwillingly fond of a character before, but Rouse conveyed Hector’s underlying sadness and struggles so well.
Every actor on that stage was commendable, from the way they moved as one when changing the set - so cleverly created by Grace Smart - to their short yet impactful musical numbers, which brought a kind of light and joy to the stage I feel is very rare. The beautiful voice of Lewis Cornay as Posner often led these, and this added a meaningful touch, especially during the final goodbye of ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon.
The acting of the boys was incredibly impactful despite the comedic premise of the play, especially that of Yazdan Qafouri as Scripps, whose thoughtful, warm interpretation of the character allowed the audience a moment away from the more chaotic aspects of the play, for them to truly think about key moments.
Bill Milner played Irwin as curiously likeable. He really emphasised Irwin’s intellectual complexity and, towards the end of the play, his slight vulnerability. Milner’s ability to shift from authoritative to vulnerable moments added depth to the character, and his subtle humour meant it was clear to the audience that the boys could communicate with him in a multifaceted way.
Overall, this interpretation of The History Boys undoubtedly did Alan Bennett justice, with Maryann Orr, an audience member who has apparently seen a few interpretations of this play, saying that this one was “unforgettable, my favourite so far” I would have to agree. It was one of my favourite pieces of theatre I have ever seen, and I sincerely doubt there is anything else quite like it.
