Comments on: The History Boys (0th week)

By: Rachel Heist

Rachel Heist — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:54:20 +0000

“…it is my opinion and I am entitled to it!” I think Pete Davies should listen more carefully to his own statements. I don’t doubt that Imogen Sarre’s and Liv Edwards’s reviews contained inaccuracies and misquotes, (especially because one claimed to not having encountered the script before!) but quite frankly it just sounds as if you are condeming them both for having an opinion that greatly differs from yours; masked by the need to point out their ‘inaccuracies’. It’s fair enough that you want to correct anything that is recorded as factually wrong but there is no need to keep going over what you did and didn’t say or what you did and didn’t mean – quite simply it’s clear you took their comments personally! Reviews should be taken lightly, accepted as purely one person’s view and that’s all, end of! I believe this website is excellent for debate and opinion on local theatre. Oxford has an outstanding array of amateur and professional theatre and one and all should be entitled to voice their opinion good or bad whether it will affect other spectators going to see a production or not.

P.S. Well done to oxfordtheatrereview.com for approaching Pete Davies’s comments with such diplomacy and restraint! Contrary to what Pete has expressed I will continue to encourage other keen theatre goers to read and make comments on this website.

By: Derisios

Derisios — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:43:45 +0000

virtual villagers a new home crack I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day. wadon17k

By: Caroline Sperko

Caroline Sperko — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:23:38 +0000

I had never seen, heard or read The History Boys before, and was a complete virgin to the play, not preparing myself for any of it.
I went on the last night of the production, front row, and I have to admit, was glued to the action on stage. I believe that it was well worth the money spent on tickets. The acting was superb and the story telling flowed beautifully. The cast’s interaction with each other seemed genuine, but I do agree, when the teacher breaks down in front of his students, it didn’t feel genuine at all, the only forced bit of acting I could see. I do not make a habit of reviewing plays that I have seen, but I believe praise for the cast is justified. I wonder if those who write reviews on here ever contemplate if the actors themselves will read the words written. Constructive criticism is as it says on the tin. Criticism for the sake of criticism is just rude.
I hope to see all from the play again. They have promising futures.

By: PianoTrade

PianoTrade — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:08:37 +0000

PianoTrade…

[...] Good piano performance. Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything it would be much appreciated. Great website http://www.en.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…

By: Barney Norris

Barney Norris — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:08:42 +0000

Not only are you entitled to your opinion, Pete, it’s great you put it forward – I’m only sorry I can’t talk in an informed way about the production in question. I hope we’ll be able to interact in future weeks over something I’ve seen!

By: Pete Davies

Pete Davies — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:52:13 +0000

I agree Barney, as you say, dicussion about local drama is a good thing. However, I disagreed with the original review on the basis that it was factually incorrect and mis-quoted (which, incidentally, Imogen has decided to go back to her original posting and correct it – thus disabling others from seeing her mis-quotes). I see you are also guilty of mis-quoting: if you read my original statement, you will see that I never suggested (quote) “students shouldn’t use this website”, I merely stated that if I were a student, which I’m not, I would probably not return to this site, due to the rather poor skills in reviewing the play. You may disagree in the strongest possible terms, but it is my opinion and I am entitled to it!
I have seen several reviews of this production, and all commented on the professionalism and competency of the Director, Cast & Crew. If I had read Imogen’s and the other (un-named!) review before buying tickets, I may not have bothered to go at all, and may have missed out on something good, which it was.

By: Barney Norris

Barney Norris — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:37:33 +0000

I’m afraid I missed this production of ‘The History Boys’, but am moved to comment on another matter.

I’d like to take the chance to disagree in the strongest possible terms with Pete’s suggestion that students shouldn’t use this website: but to say that I’m very glad that Pete posted a comment. As Oxford University Drama Officer, I’d like to endorse this site as a great chance for students to interact, to argue, and to think about theatre. A regular source of interactive first night reviews could be invaluable to Oxford drama as a stimulus to new ideas and responses to theatre: this site can provide that. I hope people will see this thread of comments as the reason that the Oxford Theatre Review should be essential reading: people are talking about plays! And the more we talk and think about what goes on in Oxford, the more thoughtful and considered and interesting our productions will become. I think that has to be a good thing, and will keep reading.

By: Pete Davies

Pete Davies — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Quite so.
But as you can see, there are no other comments, which indicates to me that you actually have very few people bothering to read your drivel.

By: imogen.sarre

imogen.sarre — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:15:24 +0000

Dear Pete,
Thank you very much for your response; any constructive criticism is welcome. We have edited the inaccuracies in our reviews and apologise for them and any misunderstandings they may have led to.
Theatre is about debate and watching any play, or indeed reading any form of literature, always engenders disagreement. The opinions set forth in our reviews were subjective interpretations of the production we saw last Tuesday night, but the online comment section is designed to give a more representative view of people’s responses to the play. If other people agree or disagree, they are welcome to put forth their point of view.

By: Pete Davies

Pete Davies — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:36:18 +0000

I’m appalled at the inaccuracy and mistakes contained in the 2 reviews above. Firstly, it was NOT a ‘student’ production. Also, if you have “never seen a production of The History Boys, read the script or even seen the film”, how could it possibly be everything you expected?! If you are going to quote from a play, at least try to get the quote correct – the “Gibbets” as you quoted, were actually “Gobbits” (perhaps you ought to learn to proof-read your comments and check them for correctness before posting them on your web pages!). Anyone who saw this production (and I did – twice!) will agree it was well produced and directed. I have read other reviews of this play which have said so (one review in particular compared it to the original ‘National’ production) – all agreed that character portrayals were good: for example: “All of the significant parts are well-played, with the three teachers and the comically odious headmaster of particular note”. You could do worse than read some of them, to pick up some tips on how to review stage productions. If I were a student, I would give your web site a wide berth. I would prefer to read the more professional reviews of stage productions which are likey to more accurately report what actually happens.