PLAY

The History Boys (TimeLine Theater, 615 W. Wellington, Chicago, extended through Sept. 27). This Windy City production of Alan Bennett’s play about a group of English public-school prodigies and the teacher (Donald Brearley) who loves certain of them not wisely but too well is arguably superior to the original National Theatre production that played on Broadway in 2006, and has the overwhelming advantage of being performed in a very small theater (eighty-seven seats) in which the splendid performances of the ensemble cast can come through with breathtaking clarity. Worth the trip–no matter where you’re coming from (TT).