Verdict: A good, well-cast production that nevertheless flags up the flaws in ‘the nation’s favourite play’.
There's plenty to admire in Kate Saxon's new production, but what is missing is much of the humour of the original. Maybe we're all overly familiar with the play now and some of Bennett's bon mots have lost a little of their sparkle but this is a production that scores heavily on the politics and less on wit.
The History Boys, in the words of Hector, is something which must be “passed on” to others. Enjoy, discuss, take from it, but most of all encourage others to experience it.
While this is a satisfying production, it adds little to the play’s reputation.
With an overwhelming array of talent, magical writing, and a stage setting that augments the experience as a whole, this timeless, masterfully-constructed creation, presented by Sell A Door Theatre Company, ticks all the theatrical boxes.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday March 17, 2015, until Saturday March 21, 2015. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/kings
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