CONTEXT – History boys

The History boys–weekly plan log

I am currently working on my second show hear at Con EAST called The History Boys by play righter Allen Bennett; I will be playing the role of Posner. This show is being directed by Hannah Schofield. The play premiered on the 18th May 2004 at the Royal National Theatre in London. Its Broadway debut was on 23rd April 2006 at the Broad Hurst Theatre, where 185 performances were staged before it closed on 1 October 2006. The play won a various rewards, including the 2005 Laurence Olivier Award for best new play. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_Boys (statistics- Wikapedia 11/2/19)

Alan Bennett – born 9 May 1934 he is an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and author. He was born in Leeds and attended Oxford University, where he studied history and performed with the Oxford Revue. He then processed to stay on at Oxford to research medieval history for several years. His collaboration with writer and performer Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Peter Cook in the satirical revue Beyond the Fringe at the 1960 Edinburgh Festival brought him instant fame. He then turned to writing full-time, his first stage play Forty Years On being produced in 1968.
His work includes The Madness of George III and its film adaptation, the series of monologues Talking Heads, play and subsequent film of The History Boys, and popular audio books, including his readings of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Winnie-the-Pooh. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003141/- (IBDM-11/2/19)

This Eventful play will be running from the 7th-9th February (3 shows in total) at Con East theatre in West Suffolk College Bury St Edmunds, he performance style is in a black box theatre. For this show there is a varsed amount production elements used such as sound audio, film projections, Theatre lights and a live piano for the song “Bewitched”. We are lucky enough to be able to have these thing well equipped into the theatre so we could apply them to our show. Our rehearsal period is over the course of about 7-8 weeks. In the West end production the cast had 2 weeks of intensive history and French lessons, his was so they was well aware of the Historical aspects mentioned throughout the scripted. This was something we unfortunately unable to have as there wasn’t enough time. Therefor to make up for this we had to research and put in a varsed amount of concentration and perseverance we could get the grasp of the scripted. The play was set in 1980s this is significant and clearly showed through the music and referencing from the teacher Mrs Linttot throughout the play. For example her line “why s there no woman on tv” This is her acknowledging and clearly stating it is set in a earlier time period.

As this show has a lot of the widespread vilification of obscure harsh language and sexual referencing, this means it’s not a family friendly show and certainly not for ages under 10. Furthermore a lot of elderly people may find this type of humour disrespectful and presumptuous meaning this may not fit into their preferred stile of shows. In addition to this it means our audience is most likely to be ages from 14-60 year. Some advertisement techniques e have used is Facebook and other social media to post and log our rehearsal moments for people to get a taste of the show, our main way of advertising was work of mouth.

I believe I have been cast as the role of Posner because he has many layers and depth. For example he is very much the acquiescent mode and ready to accept something without protest, however he learns to build past this and think of his own responses. He Is also described as small and this is something that fits really well as I am quite small so therefor I can fit his appearance. Posner loves the saturnine Dakin, the only sexually experienced member of the class, and serenades him with the Rodgers and Hart song ‘Bewitched’, which restores the original gay intention of Hart’s lyrics. I think I could express lots of his emotions about Dakin into this song, this could be though facial expressions and body language- However dropping in aspects of his gay personality.

All the cast members including myself has performing experience of some type, however there is a lot of foreign language (French) witch most of us are not experienced in. This is something we will really need to work and adapt to; meaning those of us who are experienced in this language help with the correct pronunciation, therefor this helps us the short time we have to finalise the show.

Short plot
When a 1980s class achieves the best scores at Cutlers’ Grammar School for boys in Sheffield (Yorkshire, northern England), the petty headmaster, who craves the prestige like the parents, recruits a young Oxford graduate, Irwin, to prepare them for the general entry exams for the world class universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Irwin advises that delivering obvious answer isn’t always the best way -if they even really want to go- standing out by a different approach and perspective: surprising quotations and associations, witty phrasing… Actually good foundations were laid by the current staff, less by history teacher Dorothy Lintott, a frustrated liberal feminist. Than by the enthusiasm-arousing ‘ Mr Hector’ in General Studies, who gets their attention and makes them think trough literature, role-play and performing declamation and song. At both of which the only Jewish boy (Posner) excels. Alas, when the headmaster learns that the caring Mr Hector innocently touches the boy’s privates, he insists on ‘graceful’ early retirement. Meanwhile the irresistible class flirt, Dakin, skilfully tests all borders including his and Irwin’s sexual orientation, and all consider what they really aspire and care for, in studies and life. This However never happens due to a motorcycle accident witch Hectors unfortunate death arras in.

Character list
Hector; The eccentric General Studies teacher who believes that exam preparation is the enemy of education. He wants the boys to learn information and skills that will benefit their development as men. Hector is married to a woman but he is a closeted homosexual. He often takes his male students for rides on his motorcycle, during which he fondles their genitals. He has been teaching for a long time and has become very bitter about his profession.
Irwin; The young and new “supply teacher” whom the Headmaster employs to prepare the boys for their Oxbridge exams. Irwin’s educational methods often clash with Hector’s, as Irwin wants the boys to focus on making themselves appealing to Oxbridge examiners. He trains them to look at historical facts in a detached and critical manner, similar to what journalists do. Irwin also tries to hide his homosexuality, which becomes difficult when Dakin develops feelings for him.
Headmaster; Mr Felix Armstrong is the Headmaster of the school. He is thrilled that the 8 sixth-form boys have achieved such excellent A-level he brings in Irwin to teach them wider reading; he believes that education alone is not enough to gain entrance into Oxford or Cambridge.
Mrs Lintott; Mrs Dorothy Lintott is the history teacher who has quietly and steadily been teaching the boys everything they need to know to excel academically. She proves to be a voice of truth throughout the play.
Posner; Posner is a Jewish boy of small stature and the youngest student in his sixth-form class. He is gay and has a crush on Dakin. He struggles after finishing school, dropping out of Cambridge and never really finding a career path. He is also the only one of Hector’s students who truly remembers everything Hector ever taught him.
Dakin; Dakin is the most confident and handsome boy in his class. Posner has a crush on him and yearns for his approval, but Dakin does not return his affections. Instead, Dakin has an affair with the Headmaster’s secretary, Fiona. Later he manages to seduce Irwin. Dakin does not change much over the course of the play; as an adult he goes on to be a tax lawyer.
Scripps; Scripps is the most religious boy in his class. He often serves as a narrator, describing the events of the play in the past tense and therefore framing the main narrative as a flashback. Scripps goes on to become a journalist after he finishes education.
Timms; Timms plays the role of the class clown. After graduating, he goes on to own a chain of dry-cleaners and abuse recreational drugs on the weekends.
Crowther; Crowther has notable acting talent. He eventually becomes a magistrate.
Rudge; Rudge comes from a working-class background and struggles in school; none of his teachers expect him to get into Oxbridge. He does get in. He goes on to become a builder who makes homes that are affordable for first-time buyers.
Lockwood; Lockwood is an argumentative student who eventually becomes a magistrate.
Akthar; Akthar is a Muslim student unspecified from where exactualy. He eventually becomes a headmaster.