Hobson's Choice

8th June? I guess Hand To God's shortened its run a little then, it was originally booking to the 11th according to my notes.

I saw this on tour at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago - very enjoyable, excellent cast (especially Naomi Frederick & Bryan Dick). Though I have to say it was tricky at times to tell what Martin Shaw was saying as he was slightly overdoing Mr Hobson's bluster & drunkenness. And headlining Christopher Timothy is a bit cheeky because he's only in a very minor part.

I like Martin Shaw but this may be too soon after the Regent's Open Air version last year (or the year before?) for me to bother with Hobson.

West End Producer tweeted this a few days ago:

'I hear there's been a change of heart regarding the Kipps casting in Half A Sixpence. #dear'

Saw Hobson's Choice at Richmond and would definitely recommend this show. Bryan Dick gives a really strong performance and his facial expressions and coming timing are great! 

Saw the matinee today. Enjoyable couple of hours. Was always a favourite film as a child so was looking forward to seeing staged version. Impressive set for something that has been on tour. Strong cast. Martin Shaw makes a good Hobson. I would say it was about 3/4 full. Clearly one for the older audience - very few people there under the age of 30 and majority 60 plus.

Can't remember the last time I went to the Vaudeville but thought it a lovely smaller theatre.

Saw this Saturday night, and liked it, on account of some striking performances, despite the fact that the play has lost most of it's comedy, and all of it's cutting edge, due to the passage of time.

There is simply nothing surprising, or funny, any more, about the fact that women can be smarter and more capable than men. There is certainly something sad about the fact it was once surprising and funny, but that's another thing.

Therefore, the only way to make anything of this play is to show how this particular woman is smarter and more capable than this particular man. This puts undue importance on the actors imbuing each character with individuality.

Unsurprisingly, during the first act, there were very few laughs, as the characters had not yet been defined, and the situations in the play, which had once been funny, were no longer funny. However, during the second act, the audience began to laugh loud and often, as the director and actors had convinced them that these characters were worth investing in, and the power plays between them were somewhat dramatic.

I say somewhat dramatic, because in a sense, there is no drama in this play. Naomi Frederick's Maggie Hobson is as capable of running rings, round Martin's Shaw's Henry Hobson and Bryan Dick's Willie Mossop, as James Bond is capable with a gun, or as Mel Brooks is with a one-liner. There is simply no drama there, it's a foregone conclusion what is going to happen.

A foregone conclusion may not be dramatic, but it can definitely be funny, with each manifestation of that foregone conclusion presented as a variety of different and escalating punchlines to the joke on foolish, recalcitrant Henry Hobson's obstinacy, and on wimpy Willie Mossop's shrunken masculinity.

Luckily, Martin Shaw gives great northern goat, Bryan Dick gives great retiring wimp, and above all, Naomi Frederick gives a great confident portrayal of a savvy woman who knows her strengths, knows the flaws of these men, and can compassionately manipulate all and sundry. That she can do so without alienating the audience is to her credit, as successfully manipulating other people can come off as arrogant, and she never does.

This was a well-acted, and interesting evening of theatre, showing how a tired old play can be infused with a new lease of life.

3 and a half stars

NB: If Hobson's Choice means you have only one decent option, that can be as true offstage as on. When leaving a theatre, if you are in the centre of a row, no matter how much of a rush you are in, it is Hobson's Choice that you trudge at a funereal pace, one foot at a time, behind people who are walking slower than snails. Otherwise is the path to misery. Mr. Church, the director of the play, had been making copious notes on the production, still in previews at the Vaudeville, from the centre of his row. When he got up to leave, he had the frenetic hurry of a working man trapped by leisured dawdlers. He clutched at the air with clawed hands in frustration, but try as he might, he could not overtake the funeral march. As he reached the side aisle, he suddenly boldly bolted for a sliver between the exiting snails, tripped over a woman's foot, struggling to regain his footing. "In a hurry, are you?" growled an enormous tall thin man, affronted. An angry exchange continued between Church and the giant for some thirty seconds, which I could not hear, six people behind them in the queue, but finally Church erupted with the exclamation "ARE YOU THREATENING ME!?" The giant loomed over Church deliberately, pressing his face to within an inch of the smaller man, but Church fortunately seized an opportunity, and darted away through an entire empty row of chairs to join the tortoises on the other side of the theatre. If there's one thing worse than a slow queue, it's a slow and scary queue. So next time you leave the theatre in a hurry, just don't. That's Hobson's Choice.

I would agree it lacks the comedy that certainly came across in the original film. From memory, I think in part the film was enhanced by the soundtrack by Malcolm Arnold which gave emphasis to each of the characters.

Loved it when I went with my visiting parents. The audience was really into it and it has some good pace. The daughter/son-in-law are excellent in this, and I would really recommend going. Not easy to put this on - very old Salford-set and while it closed mid September I'm thinking it's worth a second visit. 

Not heard much about this show, is it a quiet show in terms of audiences? Not been busy or doing quite well?