LEWISTON — “Humble Boy” is a fascinating play jampacked with ideas, both witty and weighty, and its top-notch cast brings the action to a surprising climax.

The production at The Public Theatre, which opened March 18 and continues March 24-27, gives audiences a lot to think about. It weaves a complex fabric of concepts from black holes to bumble bees as the relationships between six characters collide.

“Humble Boy” satisfies on several levels. It’s intelligent with thought-provoking plot lines. It has humor to lighten the mounting intensity when it seems an explosion of contrary personalities is inevitable.

Felix Humble, a man in his mid-thirties with an extremely high IQ, has returned to his country home in England from his research in theoretical astrophysics at Cambridge for his father’s funeral.

Felix finds that his father’s beehives are mysteriously empty, his mother has been having an affair with the next-door neighbor and a visitor from his own romantic past brings more complications.

Director Christopher Schario draws an excellent performance from each cast member. Kern McFadden, who plays Felix, appears at TPT directly following his role in the Off-Broadway production of “The Misanthrope” at The Pearl Theatre.

McFadden gives a superb interpretation of the genius seeking a “Theory of Everything” solution who runs into chaos on a family level. His childhood stuttering reappears under stress as he struggles with the feeling that his father’s life had been meaningless.

The significance of his scientific challenges are almost lost in the domestic calamities, but the seemingly widely separated circumstances begin to merge as the play progresses. The complexity of the subject matter is secondary to the mesmerizing development of the inter-relationships.

Barbara McCulloh gives a compelling performance as Flora, Felix’s stylish, superficially self-assured and super-assertive mother. She charges ahead through every opportunity to dominate her ultimately unimportant world.

Both McFadden and McCulloh are making their first appearances on the TPT stage.

Andrew Harris is excellent in the role of George, Flora’s blustery paramour.

He skillfully blends buffoonery and dramatic intensity in this important role. The scene involving a key prop and a booze-induced incident in the garden is hilarious, and its consequences lead to a lot more laughs in a later dinner scene.

Harris is a veteran of stage appearances in England and is well-known in the L-A area for his support of the arts. He was seen in TPT’s production of “Enchanted April.”

Joyce Cohen appears as Mercy, a friend of the family. Her timid personality erupts in comic defiance as she delivers a lengthy and very funny version of grace at that dinner gathering.

She has appeared on Broadway and had a role in the Disney hit “High School Musical.”

Sandra Blaney plays Rosie. She is George’s daughter, and Felix’s former love. Her characterization is strong, believable and ultimately a unifying factor in the outcome. Blaney was seen in TPT’s productions of “Indoor/Outdoor” and “Jekyll and Hyde.”

George Tynan Crowley’s role as the gardener is quiet but commanding in his occasional scenes as the play develops. His pivotal part at the end is extremely moving.

Crowley was in TPT’s “Art” and “Betrayal.”

“Humble Boy” is set in a colorful English garden designed by Christopher Price. Lighting is by Bart Garvey and costumes are by Kathleen Brown.

Remaining shows

WHAT: “Humble Boy”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 24-25; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 27

WHERE: The Public Theatre, 31 Maple St., Lewiston

TICKETS: Call 782-3200