Humble Boy New Vic Theatre

THERE used to be a time when a theatre programme contained a cast list, an outline of the plot, and worthy but dull advertisements for tea rooms and schools of dance. Not any more.

The programme for Humble Boy, which opened on Thursday night at the New Vic Theatre, buzzes with information not only on the writer, Charlotte Jones – as might be expected – but also on the costumes, theoretical physics and the superstring theory, and Hamlet. Oh, yes. And bees.

Bees begin the play – to a round of applause – and end it. And, in this taut, tightly honey-combed comedy, bees are never far away. Even the characters are bee-like: widowed Flora Humble (Carol Royle) is the queen bee, while dysfunctional, Hamlet-esque son Felix (Martin Miller) sports a yellow and black-striped pullover.

Bees, too, provide a neat and unexpected twist which helps Flora understand herself and reassess her situation.

As the programme suggests, Humble Boy draws its theatrical pollen from a variety of sources. Jones's talent, however, is the ability to blend all these into a mellifluous whole.

The New Vic production, directed by Theresa Heskins, does the play proud. And an appreciative audience applauded a poised and polished cast.

Humble Boy is what theatre is all about: inspirational, revealing, entertaining. Buzzing, perhaps. And when it's over there's still the programme to peruse.

The play runs until Saturday, April 17. Tickets are available from the New Vic box office on 01782 717962.

Paul Gubbins