Their stories couldn't have been more different even though a common thread united them both.
On the same day I reviewed Uptown Players latest production of the Tony award-winning The History Boys now showing at the KD Studio theater in Dallas, I also reviewed another production that dealt with an aspect of education (or the lack thereof) of black inner city youth called "unseen teens: Keepin It 100".
In one piece, there are black teens who were not born with a silver spoon in their mouths and trying to stay afloat in an oasis of dysfunction and indifference. They cried out for someone to see them, to nurture them, to educate them and help them excel to a higher level of education, as well as the education that extends well past the classroom.
In The History Boys, we find 8 young high school seniors attending a boarding school with forced aspirations of attending Oxford or Cambridge, the institutions of choice of their school administrators.
The boys, however, are typical teenagers: energetic, carefree, hormone driven, and the ultimate pranksters, always trying to outdo each other. They are led by their English teacher Hector, played with delightful authority by Bradley Campbell, who encourages their boyish antics and participates alongside them.
Hector doesn't view the pursuit of education and knowledge as a means to an end but as a perpetual endeavor best expressed by renown artist Michelangelo who once proclaimed "I am still learning."
Headmaster Armstrong, played with Napoleon-like intensity by the talented Rick Espaillat, thinks otherwise and hires a new history teacher named Mr. Irwin, played with drill sergeant precision by an equally talented David Plunkett, to help them prepare for their college admissions test.
Mr. Irwin is direct in his approach and exhorts the boys to "rethink" the way they view the world and the questions they will be asked on their entrance exam (i.e., teaching to the test). "The question has a front door and back door. A question is about what you know, it is not about what you don't know."
During this daily instruction of facts and how to approach them, one of the boys Posner played with such youthful innocence by Corey Cleary-Stoner, is struggling with his homosexual desires amidst a serious crush on a fellow classmate, Dakin played by the irrepressible Brett Theile.
So smitten is Posner by this academic Zac Efron-like stud, that when he confides his affection towards Dakin to Mr. Irwin in confidence, he says "if I can get into Oxford or Cambridge, maybe Dakin may love me." To which Mr. Irwin promptly replies "you must try to acquire the position of contradiction." That's a push into the closet if I ever saw one.
Not knowing the true nature of Irwin's presence at the school, Hector attempts to school the younger instructor on his interpretation of academic instruction and how to approach the boys, telling him "what you're teaching the boys isn't simply trinkets of information."
Trouble starts to boil over when Headmaster Armstrong's wife observes a married Hector out in public riding his bike with one of the boys in a compromising position. When asked "does your wife know," Hector responds "I don't know what women know", which drew huge laughter.
Hector is asked to retire early, preferably by the end of the term. In the meantime, he is allowed to share teaching responsibilities with Irwin which is an obvious exercise in futility. Hector challenges Irwin, Irwin passively yet aggressively challenges Hector, and the boys don't know which side to take.
Except for Dakin who starts to pursue Irwin, who is at once rightly uncomfortable with the boy's advances but almost very much intrigued through Dakin's bewitching powers of persuasion. His exploration of his own sexuality doesn't get him in trouble but his views of the holocaust turns him into a pariah like Hector when a distraught Posner, who is Jewish, complains to his parents about Irwin's statements.
Caught in the middle of the entire sordid affair is Mrs. Lintott, a school administrator played with refined dignity by Wendy Welch, who is a personal friend of Hector and agrees with his teaching methods. At one point when the Headmaster is on one of his "have to exceed at all costs" rants, Mrs. Lintott barks at him after he has left the room "the chief enemy of culture in this type of environment is Headmaster Armstrong."
Despite all of the adult drama, the boys manage to keep it together and press forward. During mock presentations for their admissions interviews, one of the boys Rudge, played by a strappling Blake Blair, expresses his disdain for the entire preparation process telling the headmaster and others "they will take me if I'm dull and ordinary."
While there were actors who really stood out based on the writing, like Campbell, Espaillat, Cleary-Stoner, and Theile, this production of The History Boys was truly a great ensemble effort. What is remarkable is most of the boys were making their professional stage debuts and executed their roles like pros.
The singing numbers were fabulous and the interaction between cast members during group scenes were blocked so effectively that the performance space seemed a lot larger than it actually is, thanks to a beautiful yet elaborate and functional set.
The ending is a tear jerker and perhaps most good stories are. As I sat there at the end of the play, I couldn't help but to reminisce about my own high school days and my favorite teacher Mr. Lewis, who was a lot like Hector in his teaching methods. I can only hope I made him proud.
Comments