"Ebullient, crackling, miraculous theatre—as moving as it is intellectually extravagant."—Newsday
Founding Artistic Director Joy Zinoman continues The Studio Theatre's tradition of creating big theatre in intimate spaces with her production of this warm, brilliant and epic play, which features a cast of 16. The History Boys runs March 26 through May 4, 2008 in the Metheny Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at The Studio Theatre, 14th and P Streets NW, 202-332-3300 or www.studiotheatre.org.
Playwright Alan Bennett drew on his own personal history when writing the acclaimed The History Boys. He follows eight middle-class schoolboys from a middle-rate school in Northern England as they chase an unlikely dream: entrance into the prestigious University of Oxford. Hoping to boost his school's reputation with some Oxford acceptances, their Headmaster (James Slaughter) hires a young teacher (Simon Kendall) to boost their chances. Irwin's goal is to teach the boys how to work the system, following the philosophy that it's not what you know, it's how you spin it that matters. This puts him at odds with the dry, witty Mrs. Lintott (Tana Hicken) and the charismatic Hector (Floyd King), in whose classroom chaos and poetry reign.
The true heart of The History Boys is its sparkling humor and unforgettable characters. Sexy, boisterous and smart, Bennett's boys are full of hope and hijinks, and they offer an incredible opportunity for the play's hot young stars. From the ultra-confident Dakin (Jay Sullivan) to the spiritually searching Scripps (Ben Diskant), from the wisecracking Timms (Nick Stevens) to the sports-focused Rudge (Robert Rector) to Posner (Owen Scott), the character inspired by Bennett himself, the boys fill the play with drive and vitality.
The History Boys matches powerful drama with relevant themes—the nature of history, the purpose of education—and Joy Zinoman's production gives the play a new sense of intimacy and fluidity. On Russell Metheny's flexible set, the play flows seamlessly from scene to scene, matching the energy of the boys themselves.
The 30th Anniversary Season of The Studio Theatre is generously underwritten by Jaylee Mead. This production of The History Boys is underwritten by Joan and David Maxwell and is made possible in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. -- www.studiotheatre.org
