History Never a simple story

History never a simple story
By BRETT OPPEGAARD, for The Columbian
Sunday, April 27, 2008

A fuller vision of it, though, extends well beyond a litany of wars, dates and numbers to encompass everything that every person has ever done.
That can’t all be taught. Alan Bennett’s acclaimed new play “The History Boys” examines what is and why.

This piece, which won six Tony awards in 2006, including best play, will get its regional premiere this weekend at Portland’s Artists Repertory Theatre.
It’s an intense study of the many facets of history education as well as the gray areas of teacher-student relationships.

“This play is about so many things, just like history is about so many things,” the play’s director, Jon Kretzu, said. “But it constantly expands the parallels of how history keeps repeating itself and how history is one random event after another tied together in an obscure and bizarre fashion.”