STAG's The History Boys Review

From Brian Moynihan, Director of The History Boys:

Dear TP Talk, I wish to record my critical response to the review by Andrew Dodds of the STAG production of History Boys. Mr Dodds gave the production a rather long two page review, with almost the entire first page reviewing the theatre itself, both the outside and the inside. He even reviewed the audience, as he determined they were all "proud parents, relatives or friends" of the actors. Not a regular theatre enthusiast to be seen anywhere. Why would they want to go there anyway, "with the red plastic chairs and a lottery of fluffy cushions," which of course Mr Dodds didn't win.

He also reviewed the lighting negatively, prior to the start of the play. He then got on to the set with a few words, and of course the chairs were too modern. No Andrew we weren't trying "to give a general sense of time and space". The chairs have spent many years stored away, growing dust, waiting to be repaired and painted, and used again for the umpteenth time.

Finally, we get to page two of the review. In general I don't take issue with his views of the individual performers, they are, as it should be, his opinions, much of which I agree. What bothers me is that in this rather lengthy review, which dealt with the structure of the building, the makeup of the audience, the seats, cushions, lights prior to them being turned on, the play itself was not reviewed. The actors he liked were mentioned, as was the hated Duson, but the actors were part of an overall production.

What I feel should be mentioned by the reviewer is, firstly, did the actors, lights co-ordiantor, stage management, direction, achieve the author's objective. Theatre is not just acting, it is most importantly, interacting. What helped the two main teachers, Hector and Irwin, achieve the quality and strength correctly observed in his review, was the quality of group team-work by the History Boys, including Dusan and the other boys not rating a mention by Andrew. This particular aspect of the play seemed to be lost by the reviewer. That central aspect of the author's plot, at least rated a tick or a cross. You miss that and you miss the central point. The feedback we at STAG received from the audiences suggest they understood that what Alan Bennett wanted to project in his play was "The History Boys".