The History Boys - Underwhelming?

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:32pm

Am I the only one who was left feeling quite underwhelmed by the show? I saw it this afternoon with my dad and aunt, and all three of us were somewhat disappointed. I don't know if it was just because we expected too much, or what, but we felt that the play left many unanswered questions, and was somewhat unbelievable in a few aspects. Also, although Griffiths was good, he did not give what seemed like a Tony-worthy performance. Granted, I did have a difficult time hearing/understanding in places, but I was just wondering if anyone felt the same way.

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:36pm

I agree that that play was sort of underwhelming and that it was a bit dissapointing. But still a great play. But I disagree about Griffiths performance un tony worthy. I thought he was fantastic. But I saw it shortly after opening so I guess maybe he could be getting bored??
Updated On: 7/2/06 at 11:36 PM

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:41pm

Well, maybe he was having an off day. I haven't seen any of the other nominees, but it was just like...I felt nothing for his character, and I also didn't really feel like the part was written in a way that would make it able to be a Tony-winning performance, if that makes any sense.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:44pm

Hmm. Well, I loved it, but even though I *did* love it, I think I would probably say I was a little underwhelmed as well. But, I don't blame that on the fact that it's not a great play, because it's a wonderful play; I think my expectations after hearing about it for so long were simply too high. I'm not knocking it by any means, I liked it very much, but I think I was expecting entirely too much.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:48pm

I greatly enjoyed it- don't get me wrong. I think my expectations were too high, as well. I think I need to actually read the play, because I know I missed a lot of the nuance and some of the humor for one reason or another.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:58pm

I agree. Maybe I just didn't get it. It was enjoyable, but hardly a moving or stimulating experience.

Side note: I have found that when I go to a show with high expectations I am always disappointed. But when I go to a show with low or no expectations I am always pleasently surprised. So even a great show will be dissapointing to me if I have expectations, but a mediocre show will be (at least somewhat) enjoyable if I come with low expectations. Since I realized this I have tried to have no expectations at all when I see a show and the outcome has been that I have really enjoyed the shows that I have seen. Maybe my approach is a little pessimistic, but the result is I enjoy the shows I see alot more!

Updated On: 7/3/06 at 11:58 PM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 1:31am

I can understand someone being underwhelmed by something that has been the subject of tons of hype. I can name any number of shows that I have gone into thinking "This is supposed to be great" and left wondering why I wasted my time even seeing it. I think a big problem a lot of people have with HB is not being able to understand it. I'm very familiar with English accents so I had no problem with that from the start. Also, I saw its first preview (and many times since then) so I saw it before all the hype.

That said to me it is still one of the most brilliant and moving pieces of theater I have ever witnessed in my entire life and I think that Griffiths more than deserved the Tony and I rave about this play for hours if given the reason to do so. But I can understand people who have heard tons of hype beforehand because I do believe that it can damper any show once you have set very high expectations for it.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 4:03am

I thought Lieutenant of Inishmore was a more well made play and better acted than The History Boys.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 11:02am

my favorite play of this season was Awake & Sing but that was a revival so...

i'm not sure how people can't f*cking LOVE THe History Boys, however. i was so emotionally gripped from the get go. The whole french scene alone cracked me up so hard! And the fact that they didn't feel the need to pander down to those who don't speak french made it all the more enthralling.

it's just refreshing to see a show with an all-too-done topic and not make it feel that way. i would love to see all of them back on Broadway soon. this show was just SOOOOOOO beyond underwhelming. quite the opposite actually.

[FrontRowFirst]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:41pm

The title of this thread immediately caught my attention, as that is how I feel about this show exactly. I stood in line for cancellation on Saturday night and was lucky enough to get third row center. However, I truly was "underwhelmed" by the show. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. It was just kind of okay. I saw Inishmore two days before and just felt it was head and shoulders above History Boys in terms of quality of script and performance. So I guess I was somewhat perplexed by all the hype surrounding it. Not a bad show, but not a great show.

[curly120]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 3:11pm

I love that everyone keeps mentioning Inishmore! It was such a great show!!

I had to see History Boys twice. The first time I saw it standing up, and it was too much to take in while concentrating on my feet hurting. So, I went back on Thursday night to see it again (thanks to student rush...although the seats were on the right and so the desk was in the way for a lot of the show). I was really hoping that it would be better this time...I was hoping that the first time was just so-so cause I was standing. It was definately a really good show, but I've definately seen better.

[springo]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 3:48pm

Does anyone have trouble understanding their english accents?

[courtnyj]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 4:02pm

For me it wasn't the British accents, but the British humor that I had trouble understanding.
Updated On: 7/3/06 at 04:02 PM

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:30pm

I wouldnt assert that I found the play underwhelming, but overrated certainly. The critics have made history boys out to be the best drama to touch down on broadway in decades, while I found last season's Doubt and Pillowman far more captivating and meaningful. For me the problem lies in Bennett's logic. For the events that occur in this play to actually occur with so little relative consequences, I find the drama to be, while dramatic, ungrounded in reality. It seems to me Bennet's characters shift and change and remain unaffected by relatively disturbing behavior all for the sake of advancing the drama, and more importantly, its message. For me, relatable characters that act in a realistic and empathetic manner are important in any drama, and here, they just don't seem to exist.

[holly]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:38pm

I have been previously accused of being "that woman who just trashes History Boys"! Guess so. I thought it was over hyped and agree that Inishmore was a much better show.

By the way, not only did I find it to be very over hyped but so did a number of Broadway producers and investors with whom we sat at an opening night party!

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 6:42pm

A lot of people complain about inability to understand the accents and/or the humor. Both are an acquired taste and are easier to understand if you've been around them for prolonged periods of time. I grew up with the accents and the humor, so I had no trouble understanding and enjoying the show. I will agree, however, that some members of the cast, particularly Richard Griffiths, have projection issues. I always miss the end of Griffiths' Act I speech because he's turned completely upstage and speaks so silently.

Love the play, though. I really do need to see Inishmore.

Updated On: 7/3/06 at 06:42 PM