Review: The History Boys

By Jenny O'Sullivan

Scenes from the Southampton Cultural Center’s production of The History Boys, which runs through February 15.

The History Boys will get you thinking. Presented at the Southampton Cultural Center, Alan Bennett's drama, which won the 2006 Tony Award for best play, explores the relationship between teacher and student and the sacrifices people make to stay true to themselves. The play also shows how "studying for the test" can hinder the educational experience.

The setting is a British grammar school in the 1980s that's filled with very bright and promising young men. This prompts the headmaster to bring Irwin, a young teacher, to the school to ensure that the boys will be accepted into either Oxford or Cambridge. The headmaster's goal is to do what it takes to make the school look good, rather than what will be best for the students.

The boys' general studies teacher, Hector, is the opposite: He cares more about learning, the appreciation of art and life experiences. Throughout the play, there's much tension among the teachers, among certain students, and between teacher and student, as the drama examines the politics of corrupt education systems and the dire consequences that may result.

A complex play requires a certain level of talent on the part of the actors. This cast at the Cultural Center was both talented and believable. The ensemble succeeded - from their British accents to their classroom banter. The performance of Mark Anderson as Irwin was a standout. The audience could feel his conflict between his heart's desire and social expectations. Stephen D'Amico as Polsner effectively communicated the character's inner angst. D'Amico also had a vocal solo that was lovely. Another well-rounded talent was Jacob Boergesson, in the role of Scripps, whose acting and piano abilities were impressive.

The object of much affection was Dakin, played by Christopher D'Amico. Dakin oozed of young confidence and intelligence, which caught the eye of classmates and teachers.

The simple set includes a blackboard that doubles as a window and as a screen for video clips. Set changes were clever and meticulously executed - always appreciated by the audience. Just enough was accomplished to get the point across.

This show would be of great interest to anyone who has the desire to know what teachers probably have to deal with at some point in their careers. Teachers seeing the play could be reminded how fragile their students are, and how important the teacher/student dynamic is to maximizing education.

Directed by Michael Disher, the show's final performance is February 15, so there are only three shows of The History Boys left. Performances on Friday at Saturday are at 8 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. General admission tickets are $20 and student tickets, for those under 21 with ID, are $10. Group rates are available. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 631-287-4377.

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