History Boys - disappointing play, a must-see anyway

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 4:45pm

I saw The History Boys last night.
While I found the play itself to be vastly overrated, full of unconvincing plot developments and losing focus as it went on, I'm very glad that I saw it anyway.
The eight reasons are the actors who play the history boys.
This was acting of the very highest calibre, and I believe that several of them will have very exciting careers. This was not acting that called attention to itself and was completely free of artifice, which was more than I can say about the performances of the older actors.
Any thoughts?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 4:50pm

any thoughts?

my thought is that you're posting this opinion simply to be controversial.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 4:53pm

Anyone who doesn't think this is an amazing play should be blacklisted.



Seriously though, can you elaborate a little further as to why you did not like the play itself?

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:04pm

So I should be blacklisted because I found it impossible to believe many of the plot developments of this "amazing" play?


Spoilers ahead - do not read unless you have seen the play -



1) I found it impossible to believe that what happened on the motorcycle with many of the students was acccepted so casually by them.

2) I found it impossible to believe that Irwin goes on to become a political figure after his accident.

3) I found it impossible to believe that Dakin would make a pass at Irwin.

4) I found Griffith's crying scene poorly acted and unconvincing.

5) I'm not sure what point Bennett is making regarding the type of teacher that Hector was - is he supposed to be a better teacher than Irwin, or just more flamboyant and better at cultivating a gay sensibility?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:04pm

haha seriously, Thesbijean! i can't see how anyone can go to that show and not be blown away by the genius of it. but then, this maybe because i have a one-track mind....

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:08pm

You do realize that it is a British play, and not American, right?

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:14pm

No, I thought it was set in Texas.

How about responding seriously to my points as I did to your question?

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:17pm

I said that because British sensibilities are radically different in the areas the play covers as opposed to American sensibilities.

And don't get snippy at me, you have to say something specific as to why you disliked the play so much.

"I found it impossible to believe..." is a generalization, and will be until you let us know why you found the elements and events of the play impossible to believe.

[joshy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:19pm

"Anyone who doesn't think this is an amazing play should be blacklisted."

I agree, Thesbijean!

"1) I found it impossible to believe that what happened on the motorcycle with many of the students was acccepted so casually by them. "

I find all the whining about this to be hilarious.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:19pm

I do not usually fancy plays on Broadway, but I saw this one and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. I now own the hard copy of the play itself, and I am using it for a Summer reading book. I think that this show fully encaptures the true meaning of education today, and is a true bildungsroman about these young men. Loved it loved it loved it.

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:23pm

Why don't you tell us all why you did like the play, and why you found the plot points I couldn't accept believable?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:23pm

again with the spoilers...

i felt like the whole motorcycle incident could be believable as he had already earned the trust of all of the kids in his class in totally unconventional ways. the students didn't even know that they were learning when he was with them. AND it was already understood that the whole motorcycle incident was something that everyone hated so i'm sure if any of them got on the back of the bike with him and they hated what was going down, they probably felt like THIS was why everyone else groaned when he mentioned the ride.

the play had so many layers i honestly am finding it hard to believe how you hated it...

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:23pm

Exactly.

If you left the play thinking it was about homosexuality, you missed the point...

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:39pm

Then please tell me what the point was.

Thanks.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:46pm

1) I found it impossible to believe that what happened on the motorcycle with many of the students was acccepted so casually by them.

Authority figures. Students. Casual acceptance or resignation? Posner always seemed to volunteer...


2) I found it impossible to believe that Irwin goes on to become a political figure after his accident.

Political figures haven't had accidents before they become political figures? Particularly as Irwin starts out and gains fame as a television personality through his historical scholarship?

3) I found it impossible to believe that Dakin would make a pass at Irwin.

Students don't have crushes on teachers?

4) I found Griffith's crying scene poorly acted and unconvincing.

I found it thoroughly convincing and wonderfully acted when I saw it about a month ago.

5) I'm not sure what point Bennett is making regarding the type of teacher that Hector was - is he supposed to be a better teacher than Irwin, or just more flamboyant and better at cultivating a gay sensibility?

The point Bennett was making regarding Hector as a teacher was to learn for learning's sake. Whereas Irwin was teaching to pass a system. This arguement is currently going on in the American educational system. With the "standardized exams" mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act, students have to pass a national standard of exams at certain grade levels. Should teachers teach their students simply how to pass those exams? Or help to learn for learning's sake?

[harris007]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:56pm

old

is there any new play you liked, you hated this and inishmore


tell me is your name matt?

Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:56 PM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:08pm

"1) I found it impossible to believe that what happened on the motorcycle with many of the students was acccepted so casually by them."

I hardly think its impossible. Hector's actions were clearly his major character flaw, and his students didn't take that aspect of him seriously. It was really a pathetic attempt at fondling if you look at how it was supposed to have happened. I don't know why everyone keeps making such a big deal about this aspect of it.

"2) I found it impossible to believe that Irwin goes on to become a political figure after his accident."

Why? If Irwin was as he appeared to be than it makes perfect sense to me. He knows how to spin things in a different way, there's no reason why he couldn't have that career.

"3) I found it impossible to believe that Dakin would make a pass at Irwin."

Its hardly impossible, students attempt to flirt with their teachers all the time.

"4) I found Griffith's crying scene poorly acted and unconvincing."

I thought that scene was brilliant. Then again, when I was in school I actually witnessed a teacher have such a break down in class. I felt this scene was done to perfection and captured the feelings of the students around him wonderfully.

"5) I'm not sure what point Bennett is making regarding the type of teacher that Hector was - is he supposed to be a better teacher than Irwin, or just more flamboyant and better at cultivating a gay sensibility? "

Irwin taught them how to pass a test. Hector gave them lessons they could keep with them for their lives.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:10pm

Amen, swordy!

So refuted point by point twice...

Edited for bad grammar
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 06:10 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:18pm

5) I'm not sure what point Bennett is making regarding the type of teacher that Hector was - is he supposed to be a better teacher than Irwin, or just more flamboyant and better at cultivating a gay sensibility?

*gasp* A playwright that doesn't give an audience all the answers!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:20pm

i know Caroline, who does he think he is?! Albee?!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:21pm

>2) I found it impossible to believe that Irwin goes on to become a political figure after his accident.<

If Franklin Delano Roosevelt could govern the U.S. during war time from a wheelchair, why couldn't Irwin be a political spinmeister after a motorcycle accident?


>3) I found it impossible to believe that Dakin would make a pass at Irwin.<

Dakin's pass has many motivations, but in particular, he is trying to get Irwin to live his life the way he teaches. Irwin teaches the students to be iconoclasts, but leads a sheltered, guarded personal life. Dakin is also trying to get through to Irwin through his good looks, since he can’t get through to Irwin on an intellectual level.

>4) I found Griffith's crying scene poorly acted and unconvincing.<

I found it a devastating, heartbreaking moment, in a gorgeous performance.


>5) I'm not sure what point Bennett is making regarding the type of teacher that Hector was - is he supposed to be a better teacher than Irwin, or just more flamboyant and better at cultivating a gay sensibility?<

More than about being about the teachers, Bennett's play is about how one lives one's life. Is it better to say and do what you need to get by, or is it better to live your life as a well-rounded, well-cultivated individual. Bennett certainly sides with Hector in that argument, but is enough of a fine dramatist to make both Irwin and Hector tragically flawed role models, painting both sides of the equation in shades of gray, instead of black and white.

Updated On: 5/31/06 at 06:21 PM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:29pm

This thread has made me very happy

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:31pm

I did, indeed, hate Inishmore.

I never said I hated History Boys, merely that I found it disappointing.

I would never categorize something that I hated as a must-see.

I have recently, if you count last season, liked Pillowman, Doubt, and Orson's Shadow very much.

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:33pm

Is being able to quote dialogue from Now,Voyager an example of learning for learning's sake?

[oldfashionedboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:36pm

Smaxie, while I do not agree with you I do appreciate your intelligent response.