LIFE LESSONS: PICT’S THE HISTORY BOYS

9. August 2009 by admin.

LIFE LESSONS: PICT’s THE HISTORY BOYS

F. J. Hartland

            When Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys came to New York City, it was the toast of Broadway—winning six Tony Awards.  The current production at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre with fine direction by Andrew S. Paul and a dynamic cast is sure to delight local theatre-goers.

            A priggish headmaster of a second rate British school (Martin Giles) hires a young teacher (Sam Redford) to prepare the students for entrance examinations for places like Oxford and Cambridge—much to the chagrin of their aged instructor (Bernard Cuffling).

            The History Boys raises interesting questions about how to educate as well as the value of education.  In a age of no-child-left-behind thinking and standardized testing, the play is a timely choice.

            Cuffling gives a memorable performance as the quirky older teacher.  Redford does the best he can with a character who goes from unlikeable—to despicable.  Martin Giles gives us the same character from PICT’s What the Butler Saw….and every other PICT production.

            At the heart of The History Boys are, of course, the boys.  Paul has assembled a very strong group and each actor is so personalized into his role that there is no mistaking one for another.  They also serve double duty moving set pieces.

            Cory O’Conner is a stand out as Timms, who provides much of the play’s comic relief.  Also quite good is Andy Lutz as the religious Scripps.  Lutz also provides much of the show’s narration. 

           Jarid Faubel shines in the smaller role of Rudge—a slow-witted athlete who winds up surprising everyone.  And David Droxler gives a powerful performance as Dakin, the oversexed and arrogant teen who is the object of everyone’s desires. 

           Hats off to the cast for performing an entire scene in French (a subject I failed miserably in college).  But don’t worry if you also did poorly in French as a translation is printed in the program. Thanks to the actors (who perform the scene so physically and with such energy) it’s fun to watch even if you don’t understand a word of it.

            The set by Gianna Downs is elegant and makes the scene changes (of which there are many) move quickly.  The stage at the Charity Randall there is stripped bare to the back wall; then doors and chalkboards and desks are maneuvered about rapidly by the cast.  These changes also made entertaining by the addition of projections and short film clips, designed by Jessi Sedon.  Lighting by Jim French is subtle and effective.

            Despite the flowing scene changes and Paul’s well-paced direction, the show still clocks in at nearly three hours.

            Much of the cast (the boys) wear standard school uniforms, but costumer Pei-Chi Su did minimal changes for the faculty costumes.  It was bad enough to see the students in the same clothes over the months that pass during The History Boys, but do we have to see their teachers in the same drab outfits all the time? 

           Overall, it’s a three hours well spent.

            The History Boys continues through August 22.

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