The History Boys presented by Eclectic Theatre at Athenaeum Theatre

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...For Eclectic Full Contact Theatre's revival of Alan Bennett's Hollywood-friendly 2004 drama about the fight for the minds and souls of incorrigible British schoolboys, set designer Laura Carney makes an astute decision: She places the classroom onstage and the administrative offices in distant nooks amid the audience. The layout amplifies one of the play's central tensions-the wide gulf between public lessons and private politics. But little else in director Katherine Siegel's staging brings much clarity to these excessively animated, dramatically scattershot three hours."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...The History Boys is an ensemble triumph that features strong performances from all the boys, especially from Mathias Blake as the charismatic student, Dakin. Joshua Servantez, as Posner, is the low keyed Jewish boy who believes he may be gay. But the entire play rests on the fabulous work by David Belew as the maverick yet lovable teacher, Hector. Belew's insensitivity, rich verbal dexterity and genuine sincerity wins the boys and us completely. Justin Atkinson, as Irwin and Andrew Pond, as the Headmaster offered fine performances."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Alan Bennett’s engrossing, award-winning drama appears deceptively simple-looking. However this is a difficult, complicated multilevel work of art that, among other things, transforms the classroom into a microcosm of society."

Picture This Post - Highly Recommended

"...Bennett’s dialogue is written with a precision any writer would envy. Both points of view given on how children should be educated are fully explored and expressed. Within those broad themes we find insight on race, sex, religion and a myriad of other topics. One might think the play is trying to do too much. However, Bennett explores each with intelligence and the special attention enabled by his more literary writing style."