The History Boys is a Magnificient comedy by Alan Bennett. Maybe the best written play ever. The play was first performed at the Lyttelton Theatre in London in May 18th, 2004. After that the play was reveived after a year in 2005. In the summer of 2005 a film with entire orginal cast was made. In 2006 it toured to Hong Kong and was featured in New Zealand international Arts Festival In Wellington (Feb 2006). Then on April 23, 2006 it opened at the Broadhurst Theatre(http://www.ticketnest.com/theaters-tickets.php ) on Broadway with the original London cast. The History Boys is a fusion of comedy and tragedy along with multifold layers and ideas that includes the themes of growing up, the wider reason of education in adult life, pederasty, diverse teaching methods, homosexuality, and the English education system. Though the messages in the play are quite substantial and sensitive but still the show manages to remain really funny.
The vital question that the play implies is 'What is education for?' Is educations purpose to teach skills and impart qualifications that can help the students in constructive as well as productive careers? Or is it something to build up the personalities of humans by grooming their knowledge and providing them more intriguing minds. The real drama takes place in a boys' grammar school that is located in the north of England in 1980s. Here The History Boys are trying to prepare themselves for Oxbridge entrance examinations guided by contrasting personalities who happens to be their teachers. The story introduces us with group of young, fresh students who are studying History.
The teachers, head master and the students all characters are so originally played that not even for a split second youll feel that they are mere actors. Youll feel yourself sitting in the class with them or if not at least youll recall your school days. All main lead of students including: Dakin, the suave, sexually charged rogue; Posner who is quite aware of his homosexuality and unreciprocated love for Dakin and then Rudge, the "thick sod" is enough to keep the spectators smiling and laughing every now and then. Besides the actors the ideas are also explicitly shown in a very effective manner. The sheer contrast of two teachers approach towards imparting knowledge to students is beautifully manifested in front of audience. Hector who teaches the students from English to General studies. He thinks that just teaching the course quotations, songs, sketches and films is mere silliness; it doesnt do anything for students. Secondly he thinks that examination is enemy of students.
In contrast to Hector stands Irwin who believes and exercises a more focused and fixed way of teaching method. Besides them there are two more very important characters the head master of the institute. Who is just concerned about students success in Oxbridge Entrance Exam? He doesnt feel comfortable with teacher Hectors teaching style and introduces Irwin for better result. And the last but of course not the least is Mrs Lintott who has offered such a firm basis in facts for the boys. This unparalleled play has enchanted the audiences as well as the critics for years and earned a lot of awards like Best Play - Evening Standard Award & Critics Circle Award, Best New Play - Laurence Olivier Award, Best Actor - Richard Griffiths Evening, Standard Award, Critics Circle Award and Laurence Olivier Award, Samuel Barnett won, Best Newcomer & Best Supporting Actor in a play at the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Awards and also Best Director - Nicholas Hytner - Laurence Olivier Award. It becomes an irresistible play to see with its continuous wit and humor.
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