[NEohioPAL] Review of "Humble Boy" at Dobama Theare

[Bob Abelman]

Dobama's 'Humble Boy' delivers eureka moment

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review appeared in the News-Herald 5/21/10

 

On paper, Humble Boy is a dense play, layered with blatant metaphors, brimming with numbing references to physics and things metaphysical, and dripping with melodrama.

 

On stage at the Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights, this play becomes less than the sum of these cumbersome parts and, in doing so, is miraculously transformed into a subtle, enthralling and absolutely brilliant production. 

 

Humble Boy tells the story of Felix Humble, a 35-year-old ne'er-do-well British astrophysicist who returns home for his father's funeral and cremation.

 

The play opens during the aftermath of Felix's inability to find the words to eulogize his nondescript, unremarkable father, who died caring for his crop of honeybees.  Felix's lack of words is made even more profound by the reoccurrence of a childhood stutter amidst the pressure of this task, the glaring disappointment of his controlling mother, and a series of personal revelations that throw his systematic approach to life into utter chaos.  

 

As a scientist, Felix is in search of a master theory that explains the physics of the universe and everything in it.  What he discovers is that the physics of the family is even more incomprehensible and elusive.

 

He is at a loss to explain the simultaneous attraction and repulsion generated by genetics.   

 

He fails to understand the disruptive forces at work in the unpredictable dynamics of relationships.

 

Clutching the container with his father's remains, hoping for guidance, Felix can't find meaning in anything.  

 

Fortunately, director Joel Hammer finds meaning in everything.  Under his artistic leadership, playwright Charlotte Jones' blatant metaphors are gently subdued, her scientific references are rendered conversational, and doses of humor and humanity offset the play's melodramatic tendencies.  Hammer has found just the right rhythm to relay this clever play and has cast just the right players to populate it.

 

Andrew Cruse is an accessible, affable and very sympathetic Felix. No easy task given the character's extensive inventory of peculiarities.  Cruse's performance, if not his physique (Felix is frequently called fat, while Cruse is far from it) is exactly what is called for.  Every word, every stutter, is jam-packed with significance and richness.  

 

Maryann Nagel as the skin-deep, prima donna widow Flora Humble delivers all of Jones' caustic dialogue with ease and gives her character just enough dimension and texture to keep her from becoming a caricature.    

 

Similarly, Greg Violand as Flora's neighbor and pursuer, George Pye, takes a broadly drawn character-a loud, blustery, thick-necked simpleton-and gives him substance and soul.

 

In fact, the same can be said for Laurel Johnson's wonderful portrayal of Rosie, Felix's former girlfriend, Laura Starnik's hilarious depiction of family third-wheel, Mercy Lott, and Brian Zoldessy's handling of Jim, the gentle gardener.  There is not a moment in this production when these renderings do not ring true.

 

Ron Newell's set-a flower-filled garden in the backyard of the Humbles' home-is beautiful.  It is nicely complemented by Marcus Dana's lighting design and Richard Ingraham's sound.

 

Throughout the play, Felix is waiting for his ''eureka'' moment, when discovery occurs and everything makes sense.  This production will generate such a moment for members of the audience in search of masterfully conceived and marvelously executed local theater.  

 

The Humble family rises from the ashes of its innocuous patriarch.  This production transcends the written word to become something more eloquent and engaging.

 

Humble Boy continues through May 30 at the Dobama Theatre, 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.  For tickets, which range from $15 to $22, call 216-932-3396 or visit www.dobama.org.

 
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