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Humble Boy

Presented by Different Stages at The City Theatre

January 7-January 29, 2011

Avg. Event Rating (4.4 Stars):
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Different Stages continues its 2010 – 2011 season with the Austin premier of Charlotte Jones' Humble Boy, winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, the Critics' Circle Best New Play Award and the People's Choice Best New Play Award. Felix Humble, theoretical physicist, has left Cambridge and his search for a unified "Theory of Everything", to attend his beekeeper father's funeral –– but finds himself in the middle of a hornet's nest instead. His overbearing mother Flora has exiled the bees, and taken the boorish next–door neighbor as her lover. Add a mousy family friend, a dutiful gardener, and a visitor from his own romantic past, and like the bees, Felix bumbles to find order amid the chaos.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Venue Info

    The City Theatre

    3823 Airport Boulevard
    Austin, TX 78722

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets:

    Pick your Price Tickets: $15, $20, $25, $30

    Info Phone: 474–8497

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    Buy Tickets

    Check for Discount Ticket

  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    January 7-January 29, 2011

    Times:
    

    Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

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  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Entertaining Performance"
      Review posted by: Liz Bruns from Austin, TX, Jan 23, 2011
      

      Humble Boy was an enjoyable experience for me. It was a funny, entertaining production that kept me smiling throughout. I thought that all the actors performed well, no weak links. The set was simple... Expand

      Humble Boy was an enjoyable experience for me. It was a funny, entertaining production that kept me smiling throughout. I thought that all the actors performed well, no weak links. The set was simple but it worked. Lighting was very nice, and seating comfortable. It was a Friday night well-spent. If you are interested in seeing an award-winning comedy, a rare medium well-done, then plan to see the play Humble Boy. 4.5 Stars. Good job production and cast! Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "But what about the show?"
      Review posted by: Donald Bayne from Austin , Jan 14, 2011
      

      Well, note I gave it 4.5 stars. And none of my complaints interfere in any way with the audience's enjoyment of this intriguing play.

      Well, note I gave it 4.5 stars. And none of my complaints interfere in any way with the audience's enjoyment of this intriguing play.

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Go see "Humble Boy"-- but I can't tell you why."
      Review posted by: Donald Bayne from austin, Jan 13, 2011
      

      “Pfui!” as Nero Wolf says in the dozens of mystery novels written by Rex Stout. But this time it is directed at me. It should have been obvious. I have an irresolvable conflict. I auditioned for... Expand

      “Pfui!” as Nero Wolf says in the dozens of mystery novels written by Rex Stout. But this time it is directed at me. It should have been obvious. I have an irresolvable conflict. I auditioned for this show, but was not cast. Were I to write a review, no one would believe that it wasn’t tainted by “sour grapes,” or stained by my wish to be cast in the future. So, what to do to earn my free ticket? OK, I can tell you about the theater space. The City Theater is audience-friendly (lots of space in the lobby, drinks and snacks you can take with you), but a nightmare for the actors. There are no restrooms backstage, and there is no system for communicating between the House, Tech Booth, and Backstage (very important, since you must coordinate the arrival of patrons with the actual opening of the show). There is a single dressing-room (in the lobby!), which is commandeered, usually, by the women in the cast. Men? Tough. Come dressed in your costume or strip and change backstage. Make-up? Dream on. The only mirror is the one you brought, and there are no counters, mirrors, sinks, or lights to help you do anything but put on base make-up. Want to sit while you are waiting to go on? Bring your own camp-stool. Yet it is still one of the most frequently used spaces in Austin—not only for its own productions, but for dozens more of the many homeless theaters in town (e.g., Different Stages and NxNW). I am brand-new to Austin, but I can tell you from forty years of experience that the actors deserve better. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Humble Boy Delights"
      Comment posted by: Celia Hughes from Austin, TX USA, Jan 12, 2011
      

      Set in the backyard garden of a deceased English bee keeper, Humble Boy takes the audience on a wild family romp that addresses infidelity, loss, adolescent paternity and stuttering. Different... Expand

      Set in the backyard garden of a deceased English bee keeper, Humble Boy takes the audience on a wild family romp that addresses infidelity, loss, adolescent paternity and stuttering. Different Stages never disappoints in its delivery of classic or cutting-edge playwrights. Although the casting may sometimes be a little uneven, the integrity of the play is always upheld. Kudos to Elaine Jacobs for her believable backyard in a small theatre space. I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Underwood as Flora and Susan Roberts as her friend Mercy. Tom Stephan portrayed Felix Humble as a suppressed and somewhat bumbling young man, who appeared at a loss with the world and his place within it. A comment on how families are held together sometimes by forces unseen and often unrecognized, and how, when broken, these forces can create startling new realities. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "A Honey of a Play"
      Review posted by: theater lover from Austin, TX, Jan 11, 2011
      

      Humble Boy is a relatively new play, having won awards in 2001 and 2002 and is loosely based on Hamlet - with a new / different twist and some interesting surprises, as well as some wonderful... Expand

      Humble Boy is a relatively new play, having won awards in 2001 and 2002 and is loosely based on Hamlet - with a new / different twist and some interesting surprises, as well as some wonderful play with words. The cast all in all presented a stellar performance. The scenery - a garden setting - is quite nice. A play well worth seeing. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Just the Right Balance of Comedy and Drama"
      Review posted by: Stephen from Austin, TX, Jan 11, 2011
      

      Charlotte Jones' Humble Boy has found its fair share of awards and deserves all that is good about it. The cast is quite stellar and with one exception all faces I have not seen before. The story... Expand

      Charlotte Jones' Humble Boy has found its fair share of awards and deserves all that is good about it. The cast is quite stellar and with one exception all faces I have not seen before. The story centers on Felix who is coming to terms with the loss of his father, dealing with any and all things that involve an overbearing and self absorbed mother, a lost love that may not be so lost and might have more than just love to bring to him. I won't give away anymore of the plot. The play itself runs a bit but for me I found that to be quite fine as these characters, so many of them flawed in character but amazing in delivery to be people you would want to know but maybe just from a safe enough distance where they can not hurt you. I hope you take a moment and see this wonderful show. Collapse

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    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Entertaining Performance"
      Review posted by: Liz Bruns from Austin, TX, Jan 23, 2011
      

      Humble Boy was an enjoyable experience for me. It was a funny, entertaining production that kept me smiling throughout. I thought that all the actors performed well, no weak links. The set was simple... Expand

      Humble Boy was an enjoyable experience for me. It was a funny, entertaining production that kept me smiling throughout. I thought that all the actors performed well, no weak links. The set was simple but it worked. Lighting was very nice, and seating comfortable. It was a Friday night well-spent. If you are interested in seeing an award-winning comedy, a rare medium well-done, then plan to see the play Humble Boy. 4.5 Stars. Good job production and cast! Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "But what about the show?"
      Review posted by: Donald Bayne from Austin , Jan 14, 2011
      

      Well, note I gave it 4.5 stars. And none of my complaints interfere in any way with the audience's enjoyment of this intriguing play.

      Well, note I gave it 4.5 stars. And none of my complaints interfere in any way with the audience's enjoyment of this intriguing play.

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Go see "Humble Boy"-- but I can't tell you why."
      Review posted by: Donald Bayne from austin, Jan 13, 2011
      

      “Pfui!” as Nero Wolf says in the dozens of mystery novels written by Rex Stout. But this time it is directed at me. It should have been obvious. I have an irresolvable conflict. I auditioned for... Expand

      “Pfui!” as Nero Wolf says in the dozens of mystery novels written by Rex Stout. But this time it is directed at me. It should have been obvious. I have an irresolvable conflict. I auditioned for this show, but was not cast. Were I to write a review, no one would believe that it wasn’t tainted by “sour grapes,” or stained by my wish to be cast in the future. So, what to do to earn my free ticket? OK, I can tell you about the theater space. The City Theater is audience-friendly (lots of space in the lobby, drinks and snacks you can take with you), but a nightmare for the actors. There are no restrooms backstage, and there is no system for communicating between the House, Tech Booth, and Backstage (very important, since you must coordinate the arrival of patrons with the actual opening of the show). There is a single dressing-room (in the lobby!), which is commandeered, usually, by the women in the cast. Men? Tough. Come dressed in your costume or strip and change backstage. Make-up? Dream on. The only mirror is the one you brought, and there are no counters, mirrors, sinks, or lights to help you do anything but put on base make-up. Want to sit while you are waiting to go on? Bring your own camp-stool. Yet it is still one of the most frequently used spaces in Austin—not only for its own productions, but for dozens more of the many homeless theaters in town (e.g., Different Stages and NxNW). I am brand-new to Austin, but I can tell you from forty years of experience that the actors deserve better. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Humble Boy Delights"
      Comment posted by: Celia Hughes from Austin, TX USA, Jan 12, 2011
      

      Set in the backyard garden of a deceased English bee keeper, Humble Boy takes the audience on a wild family romp that addresses infidelity, loss, adolescent paternity and stuttering. Different... Expand

      Set in the backyard garden of a deceased English bee keeper, Humble Boy takes the audience on a wild family romp that addresses infidelity, loss, adolescent paternity and stuttering. Different Stages never disappoints in its delivery of classic or cutting-edge playwrights. Although the casting may sometimes be a little uneven, the integrity of the play is always upheld. Kudos to Elaine Jacobs for her believable backyard in a small theatre space. I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Underwood as Flora and Susan Roberts as her friend Mercy. Tom Stephan portrayed Felix Humble as a suppressed and somewhat bumbling young man, who appeared at a loss with the world and his place within it. A comment on how families are held together sometimes by forces unseen and often unrecognized, and how, when broken, these forces can create startling new realities. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "A Honey of a Play"
      Review posted by: theater lover from Austin, TX, Jan 11, 2011
      

      Humble Boy is a relatively new play, having won awards in 2001 and 2002 and is loosely based on Hamlet - with a new / different twist and some interesting surprises, as well as some wonderful... Expand

      Humble Boy is a relatively new play, having won awards in 2001 and 2002 and is loosely based on Hamlet - with a new / different twist and some interesting surprises, as well as some wonderful play with words. The cast all in all presented a stellar performance. The scenery - a garden setting - is quite nice. A play well worth seeing. Collapse

    • Event Name: Humble Boy
      "Just the Right Balance of Comedy and Drama"
      Review posted by: Stephen from Austin, TX, Jan 11, 2011
      

      Charlotte Jones' Humble Boy has found its fair share of awards and deserves all that is good about it. The cast is quite stellar and with one exception all faces I have not seen before. The story... Expand

      Charlotte Jones' Humble Boy has found its fair share of awards and deserves all that is good about it. The cast is quite stellar and with one exception all faces I have not seen before. The story centers on Felix who is coming to terms with the loss of his father, dealing with any and all things that involve an overbearing and self absorbed mother, a lost love that may not be so lost and might have more than just love to bring to him. I won't give away anymore of the plot. The play itself runs a bit but for me I found that to be quite fine as these characters, so many of them flawed in character but amazing in delivery to be people you would want to know but maybe just from a safe enough distance where they can not hurt you. I hope you take a moment and see this wonderful show. Collapse

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