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Storyline: In the mid-1980s the headmaster at the British equivalent of a
high school brings in a teacher he feels will put the proper emphasis on
preparation for the "A-Level Exams" which, like our SATs, determine the
collegiate opportunities of the seniors. His style contrasts sharply with
that of a long-time member of the faculty whose emphasis is on learning for
the love of learning. A class of eight young men are caught between them
until the older teacher is spied taking inappropriate liberties with one of
his boys.
Alan Bennett first came to
fame in the revue Beyond the Fringe nearly fifty years ago (with
Dudley Moore and Peter Cook), and has earned awards for both performing and
writing ever since. As you would expect, he fills this script with witty one-liners, but also with serious issues. It is that combination that makes the
piece so satisfying. As soon as you think you are rolling along with a comic
riff, it reaches a punch line that is more thoughtful than mirthful, and
then, just as things start to get a bit heavy, there is a burst of laughter
to release the pressure. When all is said and done, there's plenty to talk
about on the way home. You discuss the issues raised, from the
purpose of education to the proper procedure to deal with improper behavior
by teachers with their students. Or, you can consider the quality of the
production itself.
Among the things Zinoman gets right in her
re-envisioning of the play (no slavish imitation of someone else's success
here) is the casting of Floyd King in the role that earned Richard Griffiths
both Olivier and Tony Awards, that of the truly avuncular teacher who cares
more for his students' education than their preparation for the exams that
determine their college and career futures. The choice of King was a bit
surprising to those who expected a Griffiths knock off. He's such a
different physical "type." It might well have been interesting to see what
the play would have been in other hands - Ted van Griethuysen would have
made a more traditional choice and his performance would have definitely
been outstanding. But King brings a different persona to the piece,
simultaneously softening this key personality and shifting the focus of the
play just a bit more toward the boys of the title. Kendall turns out to have
also been an excellent choice. Neither of the other two adult roles get
performances of significant quality. Tana Hicken doesn't quite "nail" the
fabulous speech she's given in the second act and James Slaughter's
"headmaster" seems a bit distracted rather than focused on the demand for
results from his staff. Ah, but the younger performers who have more funny
lines and less multifaceted personalities. Each comes across as a distinct
individual and the ensemble works well together.
A major improvement over the London/Broadway
production that was such a success is in the set design. Bob Crowley's Tony
winning design for the original involved distracting and noisy moving walls
and had harsh florescent light fixtures partially intruding into the black
and white movie projected on the back wall. Russell Metheny, on the other
hand, has a nifty portal that glides silently across the stage, rotating
smoothly into position to form doors
and define walls creating locales for different scenes. The dispensing of the use of film entirely
solves the sightline problem.
Written by Alan Bennett. Directed by Joy Zinoman.
Design: Russell Metheny (set) Alex Jaeger (costumes) Michael Lincoln
(lights) Gil Thompson (sound) Scott Suchman (photography) John Keith Hall
(stage manager). Cast: Ben Diskant, Chris Dinolfo, Tana Hicken, Andrew
Honeycutt, Floyd King, Simon Kendall, Jeremy Lister, James Thomas Martin,
Dominique Morizet, Adam Poss, Robert Rector, Owen Scott, James Slaughter,
Nick Stevens, Matthew Stucky, Jay Sullivan. |
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May 14 - June 22, 2008
The
Internationalist
A new comedy by Anne Washburn deals with a multi-lingual romance.
June 11 - July 6, 2008
This Beautiful
City
The world premiere of a new work by the off-Broadway troupe The Civilians, is
a play with music created from interviews with people involved in the
evangelical movement. Written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis. Music and
lyrics by Michael Friedman.
September 3 - October 12, 2008
The Road to Mecca
Athol Fugard's drama will feature Tana Hicken under the direction of Joy
Zinoman.
November 12 - December 21, 2008
Grey Gardens
The unorthodox 2006 musical dramatization of the lives of the reclusive
residents of a dilapidated mansion in the Hamptons on Long Island will
receive its Potomac Region premiere under the direction of Serge Seiden.
December 3 - 21, 2008
Blackbird
David Muse directs the first of a series of works to be performed in the
Milton Theater.
Jaunaury 14 - February 22, 2009
The Seafarer
Connor McPherson's latest look at the people of Dublin will feature Edward
Gero, Philip Goodwin and Floyd King.
March 20 - April 5, 2009
Stoop Stories
Dael Orlandersmith performs her new solo performance piece in the Milton.
April 22 - May 31, 2009
Rock 'N' Roll
Tom Stoppard's decade-spanning look at the connection between a British
communist and a Czech dissident will feature Ted van Griethuysen under Joy
Zinoman's direction.
May 20 - June 28, 2009
Radio Golf
The final installment in August Wilson's
ten-play chronicle of the African American experience decade by decade
through the 20th century.
June 17 - July 5, 2009
The Year of
Magical Thinking
The solo performance piece by Joan Didion closes the series in the Milton. |
