'Humble Boy' Brings More Than Humor

By Connect Mason Reviewer KT Trotman
Photos courtesy of the Theater Department and Photographer Evan Cantwell, Creative Services

Humble Boy laughs its way through dealing with death, sexual affairs, passionate love and children out of wedlock as this English drama opens at Mason in the Theater department's first mainstage performance of the spring semester.

Playwright Charlotte Jones writes about a man who deals with the recent death of his father, faces the reality that he still lives at home with his mother, discovers his mother has been having an affair for years, and manages to find out he is the father of his best friend’s daughter.

These complexities are brought to life under the direction of Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and the GMU players. It combines a wakeup call to societal issues while showing how they can affect a series of individual lives.

When asked what was the most challenging aspect of getting the play to what it is now, Johnsen-Neshati said, “We had to spend a great deal of energy on dialect work. Our dialect coach, Helen Pafumi, came to rehearsal several times to hear the cast, record portions of the script for them, and give the cast notes.”

“More than anything, theater requires lots of communication. That's the only way the director, cast, and designers can be sure we're all thinking the same way about what the final production should look and sound like.”

The acting was excellent and technical aspects were outstanding. Even though it is a one set play, the lighting and sound effects bring forth a sundry of environments and moments.

• Humble Boy runs through March 2nd. There are a limited number of free tickets for students with a valid Mason ID.

• Read other review comments about the written play, and it's official description here.

The Humble Boy Cast
Patrick Magill - Felix Humble
Melinda Peverall - Flora Humble
Hillary Small - Mercy
Michael Deveney - George Pye
Rebekah Chatellier - Rosie Pye
Michael J. Faulkner II - Jim