Humble Boy

Humbles and Pyes Do Battle at The Barn

The title of Ross Valley Players’ new production, Humble Boy, is misleading; Charlotte Jones’ play has nothing to do with humility. Humble is the main characters’ surname, and the only boy using it now is thirty-five years old. Still, this is an English family drama, and its progress does require a sober self-examination for all concerned.
All action takes place during a Cotswold summer in a blooming garden surmounted with a now-vacant beehive that was the pride of the late James Humble. Felix, his “boy,” has returned from his work at the university to attend his father’s funeral. However, he came improperly dressed, stammered through the funeral and left early. Flora, his elegant, aloof mother, declares that she is “incandescent with rage.” Felix understands that he has grown “fat and strange,” but he’s angry too. Why did his mother already dispose of all his father’s possessions, even the bees?
But Flora Humble is not one for wasting time. She’s just had cosmetic surgery – “Is everyone pleased with my nose?”-- and she has a suitor, George Pye, waiting impatiently. (He’s already bought the ring, but Flora lets him know she would prefer a diamond.) George has drawn battle lines between himself and his future stepson because of something in the past between Felix and George’s daughter, Rosie Pye. For his part, Felix is unable to convince George that his work at the university is in theoretical astrophysics, not astrology.
Two other characters appear during this onstage summer: Mercy, a needy family hanger-on, and Jim the Gardener, a mysterious figure who appears in the garden just when Felix is facing a crisis. And poor Felix is a fountain of crises: he’s only animated when he’s trying to explain string theory. (There’s a great deal of string theory in this play.) He’s waiting for inspiration. He hears things. He’s obsessed about finding the attraction between his mismatched parents. And he’s mostly oblivious to the winsome Rosie, who is able to supply “the best offer you will ever get.”
Each character tells a story, and Humble Boy’s multiple endings do not resolve all of them satisfactorily. One fanciful scene between Flora and Jim is especially promising, but it does not close the show.
Director Ken Sonkin has had to contend with an English play, written for English accents. Not surprisingly, the cast member who handles it most smoothly is Simon Boddington (George,) who is English. He presents George, seemingly without effort, as a hard-working, deserving fellow. Among the American actors, Robyn Wiley portrays Flora as convincingly steely as Diana Rigg, who played Flora at the play’s opening in 2001. Lynn Stofle (Mercy) and Mary Beth Smith (Rosie) both convey, in spite of the accents, warm, human contrasts to the inaccessible Humbles. David Bintinger’s character (Jim the Gardener) contrasts with an appropriate remoteness. But Matthew Purdon (Felix) struggles throughout with his character’s accent and never quite wins the fight. Purdon is a good actor; he needs a part that will really allow him to show off his skills.
Nancy Wilson’s costumes, including Flora’s couture and Felix’s thrift shop finds, help set the summertime stage.
Humble Boy can be seen at The Barn Theatre in the Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross, through April 23. Ticket prices range from $15 to $19, depending on date and age. For complete information, call 456-9555 or see www.rossvalleyplayers.org.

Note: The old Barn Theatre has been offered a $25,000 challenge grant to renovate the building, improve access and update the restrooms. To assist with the project, the Ross Valley Players request that you send tax-deductible contributions to P.O. Box 437, Ross, CA 94957 or leave a message at the box office.