Humble Boy

After a couple of disappointing mis-fires, Perth Theatre has scored a bullseye with the Scottish premiere of Humble Boy, a beautifully nuanced tragic-comedy about family, metaphysics and unravelling minds. Oh, and bumblebees.

Don't be misled by the fact that the play's two families are the Humbles and the Pyes - we're certainly not in lazy sitcom territory here. Charlotte Jones's script is at once very funny and very, very clever. Part-inspired by Hamlet, informed by a love of language and above all full of warmth and humanity, Humble Boy is a terrific play.

Theoretical physicist Felix Humble is a troubled soul, prone to obsessive behaviour and outbursts that border on mania. Steven McNicoll gives a nicely understated performance - his dysfunctional behaviour is no more pronounced than that of his vain, long-suffering mother (Sandra Duncan) or her buffoonish cockney boyfriend (Michael Mackenzie). A couple of adjectives don't do justice to these characters: each one has personal hopes and dreams, plans and regrets. Duncan in particular is superb as Flora, a complex woman who hides her feelings behind a mask of superficiality.

The death of Felix's father has prompted him to return to the family home, and to put physical distance between himself and the studies that threaten to consume him. He's none too pleased to learn that his mother has been having an long-standing affair with George Pye, the father of Rosie, the girl Felix left behind. The discovery that his father's beloved bees have been swiftly removed from their hive only adds further upset.

Ken Harrison's garden set strikes just the right note, somewhere between natural and fantastical, with apples suspended from invisible trees and perfect flowers blooming in neatly cultivated beds.

The reaction from Perth Theatre regulars was muted after the opening matinee performance ' Humble Boy is a far cry from the straightforward melodrama of The Little Foxes or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. For those who like their drama boldly funny, charming and with a little depth, this production is well worth travelling to see.