Humble Boy( Orange Tree Theatre)

I've directed it...

The cast was looking good until I got to the very generic Belinda Lang. Really don't see her as a Flora.

From their blurb:

My husband is dead and my only son, who has grown fat and strange, has just run away from his own Father’s funeral. I’ll be fine. Fine. At least those bastard bees are gone.

Felix Humble is drawn back to his family home after the death of his father, a biology teacher and amateur beekeeper. There in the garden he finds his waspish mother Flora, her downtrodden friend Mercy and suspiciously ever-present local businessman George Pye, whose daughter Rosie was once involved with Felix. A luncheon is arranged…

Felix is an astrophysicist who discovers that solving the riddle of his emotional life is considerably more challenging than the quest for a unified string theory.

Charlotte Jones’ witty family comedy won the Critics’ Circle Best New Play Award following its premiere at the National Theatre in 2001.

www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/humble-boy

Having seen the original production in 2001 and not retained a strong impression either way (ie unlike with some plays/productions when I think "never again" or "yes, after a few years"), I wasn't planning to see this. But then FOMO seized me so I have booked for a weekday matinee, as it's looking quite long.

I'm surprised by oxfordsimon's comment about Belinda Lang as whilst I too think of her as simply a standard, familiar name who crops up quite a lot and who seems fairly all-purpose for female roles of a certain age - which I suppose is indeed another way of saying "generic" - I hadn't seen that as a bad thing. However, as I recall nothing of the original and therefore have no views about any particular part, I shall wait to see what Paul Miller does with his revival. No doubt he will wish to apply one of his trademark quirks so I hope it's not too irritating.

Belinda Lang does few favours to whatever she is in (am still shuddering at the memory of her in both THE SECRET RAPTURE and HAY FEVER) -- and she was sacrily bad in OKLAHOMA! last summer at the Proms. Shame.

yes, Hodge would be super. better, in fact, than Dame D was originally since her supposed grandeur is so phony and offputting

Just seen my first online review of this production: 4 stars. Don't know if they've actually had press night yet but I'm going anyway.

I've always loved this play, especially for that dinner party scene.

I can't remember anything about it apart from a vague recollection of the set, so will in effect be coming fresh to this revival and have now seen one review saying it's better than the original, star-laden production. (How do people remember things from so long ago?!)

This was quite enjoyable in a “nice to pass a few hours” sort of way. The acting was very good and it made decent use of the playing space. I don’t recall Belinda Lang’s character Flora being quite so dislikeable, but there was some redemption at the end. Jonathan Broadbent was very good. Having seen the play back in 2001, I think I enjoyed it more then. The writing is still sharp, but a bit too “clever clever” with the bee references throughout in speeches, and astrophysics rather thrown in for no real effect other than to demonstrate how out of touch with the “real” world Felix is. The lunch party scene is still strong, and Selina Cadell does well (but is no where near as funny as Marcia Warren in the original). The Hamlet references though do work well I think. A decent production. On a side note, this very much appeals to the “typical” Richmond audience - not a single ethnic minority in the audience (other than myself). I am not necessarily saying this as a criticism, just an observation as usually the Orange Tree has more mixed audiences.

Showgirl - I think I found Christopher Ravencroft’s character the gentlest, most subtle and laid back of the bunch. Not creepy at all to me.. just out of interest what was creepy about him? 

Have they left in the (not unkind) joke about Stephen Hawking?

Glad you liked it, Phantom of London, though quite surprised you were able to get a seat at what sounds like fairly short notice, as it has sold well.

However - and I hope you won't be disappointed - I think Pressure is by far the more satisfying and memorable play, so your evening may end on an even higher note - or score.