Hobson's Choice

Hobson’s Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, first performed in 1915. It’s set in Salford, in the late 19th century, and concerns a widowed shoemaker and his three daughters.

This well-known play was another popular choice for the Green Room Theatre. The auditorium was crowded and enthusiastic.

The three settings (Hobson’s shop, Maggie & Willie’s cellar and Hobson’s sitting-room) were beautifully presented; and the use of the revolving stage enabled fast, efficient changes. Props were excellent and everything smacked of late Victoriana.

Lighting and sound were handled well throughout the production.

Costumes and hairstyles were attractive and also indicative of the period.

Geoff Brown’s direction was particularly effective. He brought strong, naturalistic performances from every member of the cast.

Henry Horatio Hobson was not a nice man. He was a miser and an alcoholic. He patronised & dominated his daughters and bullied his employees …even to the extent of beating them. James Carter was that man…he totally inhabited the character. Even when Hobson was ill and on his uppers, we didn’t manage to feel sorry for him…but James’ performance was always enjoyable.

Hobson’s daughters Alice and Vicky (Rosalind Brown and Rosita Goldstone) wanted to be free to marry, but were ineffectual and trapped in their situation. Faced with their sister’s more practical plans, they reacted with incredulity and snobbery. Their frustrations and behaviour were very real.

Helen Teasdale played their older sister Maggie…the Iron Maiden. She was a determined woman, forceful and intelligent, but also displaying great warmth to the timid shoemaker, Willie Mossop. And Helen gave everything to her part…she had superb timing and never went over the top with her character. She was a class act.

Willie Mossop, on the other hand, was timorous and bullied. He was unaware of his value as a craftsman. Matt Weaver beautifully portrayed Willie’s development from a downtrodden labourer to becoming the confident master of his own business and household (when permitted). It was a very fine performance.

The two swains, Albert Prosser and Freddy Beenstock (well played by Rob De La Poer and Ricardo Sanchez) also grew in confidence as Maggie manipulated everyone to do her bidding; and they obtained their brides and their settlements.

Lara Young gave us two very different characters: the posh Mrs Hepworth, who assisted Maggie and Willie to start their business, and the irascible Nurse MacFarlane, who harassed the ailing Hobson. Both parts were played very naturally, without caricature.

Hobson’s drinking companion, Jim Heeler was portrayed well by Mark Barnes; and Geoff Thorne breathed life into Tubby Wadlow, the unempowered workshop foreman. Kim Glover-Saywood earned our sympathy as Ada Figgins, who had such high hopes of Willie’s hand in marriage…until Maggie had other ideas.

It was a thoroughly satisfying play; and the whole cast exhibited such good timing and delivery that the comedy was abundant but never forced.

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