History Boys: Act One Overview

History Boys: Act One Events, Findings, Comedic Value…

Events:

·         Irwin directing MPs

·         Classroom: Hector arrives with boys…interesting style of teaching

·         Headmaster introduced….talks with Mrs Lintott, Hector, Irwin

§  ‘you are?’ ‘Irwin.’ ‘Irwin?’ ‘The supply teacher.’ ‘Quite so.’

·         Hector teaching:

·         French, in a brothel

·         Irwin and head enter- comical situation

·         Irwin proves to out-smart Hector

§  ‘Il est commotionne, pout-etre?’

‘Comment?’

 ‘Commotionne, shell-shocked’

 

·         Hector takes Scripps on the bike:

§  ‘The things I do for Jesus’ (Scripps)

·         Irwin teaches- trying to be controversial

·         Hector and Totty discuss Irwin

§   ‘depressingly so’ (Irwin being ‘clever’)

·         Irwin ‘contro’ teaching

·         Hectors’ lessons

§  Hits boys: ‘we could report you, sir’

·         Rudge expresses issues on Irwin to Totty

·         Head finds out about Hector through his wife

§  Hector responds with a lot of diversions: talking about poetry rather than the serious matter at hand

·         Posner and Hector talk about poetry, Dakin doesn’t join

§  ‘pornography, no matter’ (Hector about Irwin and Dakin)

Findings & Comedic Value:

·         Expressed as a situation comedy style play

§  Situation driven: Head- morally upright, sparking comedic responses

·         Element of farce: farcical humour  expressed

§  Acting out a brothel in French…headteacher walks in with Irwin

·         Relatable themes

§   Characters- gender specific, like everyday folk

§  Setting- classroom; very relatable in terms of education, what goes on there…

§  Time period- 80s; reasonably modern

·         Contrast between characters creating comedic outcomes

§  Posner- Jewish, uncertain on sexuality, nerd

§  Dakin- good looking, ‘seeing’ head’s secretary

·         Contrast of themes: light hearted humour over serious topics, causing tension/ lack of ease

§  Hector’s eccentricity avoided in conversation, admired rather than appalled at

§  Use of denial: Hector covers up acts with use of poetry

§  ‘Not sure if she’d care’ (Hector, about his wife)

·         Boys

§  Relatable

§  Stereotypical characters with certain characteristics, motives, drives

§  Differences bring comedy between each other

§  Everyone shares views amongst each other; discuss openly religions, views

·         Teachers

§  Stereotypical- eccentric, controversial new teacher, rigid head, shocking lady

·         Gender issues between characters

§  Fiona only mentioned for sexual references

§  Treated as sexually objectified

§  Mrs Lintott: often shocking language used- trying to earn respect from guys, does it by using derogatory terms to her own gender ‘women have to be double as good to get half as much praise’ feminist theme...