Home Up Coaching Wish List Links

 

Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones

"A genuinely touching family comedy that is lovingly directed and supremely designed."

–The Guardian
"A spellbinding production of a wonderfully humane and original play."

–The Daily Telegraph
Hayley Mills as Flora Humble Hugh Sachs as Felix and Carla Lang as Rosie Brigit Forsyth as Mercy Lott

"A moving and exceedingly funny play, expertly directed and faultlessly acted.  A delight!  Don't miss it!"

–TheatreWorld.com

"The production certainly is deep and meaningful, funny and witty from start to finish – in fact, the perfect recipe for Humble Boy."

– BBC Somerset

"A luxurious theatre experience . . .[with] acting of the very highest quality."

–www.theatre-wales.co.uk

"It was poignant, haunting and strangely wise and will stay in my memory for a long time."

–Woking Review

"There are moments of supreme pathos, black comedy, biting wit and even slapstick.  It is one of the highlights of the season."

–The Bath Alternative

"The play itself is pure magic . . . it's often very funny, waspish about the bees and full of mystical ideas.  In a theatre season packed with good things, my guess is that this beautiful and extraordinary play will be marked down as the very best."

–The Bath Chronicle

Hugh Sachs as Felix, Chris Johnson as George (U/S), Hayley Mills, Brigit Forsyth and Carla Lang as Rosie

"Amid the science, the gloom and the bee lore, lurk some very funny moments, an unexpected twist and a stunningly beautiful final scene."

–Farnham Herald

John Burgess as James with Hayley Mills

I am only the second person in the world to direct Humble Boy, having served as associate director to John Caird on the American premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club in the spring of 2003. John encouraged me to explore the differences between our interpretations and to direct my own production, rather than recreating his by rote. I chose to foreground the 'walking past the love of one's life' imagery more emphatically that did John, as well as the opportunities to turn around and rediscover that love, be it in the form of theoretical astrophysics or in the starry eyes of a seven-year-old.

Originally, Humble Boy was designed by Tim Hatley, lit by Paul Pyant and with sound design by Chris Shutt.  On this production, I collaborated principally with the extraordinarily gifted Associate Designer Libby Watson and the equally sensational Associate Lighting Designer David Howe.