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Hobson's Choice
Jul. 10th, 2016 04:36 pmI had been wondering about going to see Hobson's Choice in London (Vaudeville Theatre) for a while, perhaps going to the matinée when I was having my London break, but thinking the ticket prices were rather high, and I had decided not to do so. But then my friend Emmy said she was thinking of going and did anyone else want to come. That immediately swung things round - a play I was interested in plus the chance to see friends - so we found a date all three of us could make.
It turned out I wasn't the only one who must have thought prices were too high. When we arrived at the theatre to collect our Grand Circle tickets we discovered we had been moved down into the Dress Circle and two rows forward. And even so, the Dress Circle was only about half full. It can't be very encouraging for the actors, since this was a Saturday matinée in a London West End theatre.
I first saw Hobson's Choice over 35 years ago in Nottingham (I no longer remember which theatre). And of course there is the famous film with Charles Laughton and John Mills. I think it's a very entertaining play (by Harold Brighouse), although possibly not one which would attract too much attention.
Martin Shaw plays Henry Horatio Hobson. He came into his own in the second half, not being quite as dominant as I would have expected in the first two acts. It may be because it was a matinée, but I didn't feel he was as forceful as he should have been. By comparison Bryan Dick as Willie Mossop seemed strong all the way through, without the sense that he was being overpowered by Hobson. Although that might just have been because I know the plot. I was very pleased to see Bryan Dick in the role - originally he was supposed to be at the Chichester Festival in Half a Sixpence, but when they brought the play to London after touring, he arranged to stay with it. I wonder whether he might slightly regret the decision.
The set was excellent. Both Hobson's Salford high street shop and Mossop's small cellar shop were beautifully crafted and that and the costumes gave a good period feel to the play.
So overall it was a good day - Pizza Express with friends beforehand, an entertaining play and then a drink in the pub before I came home.
It turned out I wasn't the only one who must have thought prices were too high. When we arrived at the theatre to collect our Grand Circle tickets we discovered we had been moved down into the Dress Circle and two rows forward. And even so, the Dress Circle was only about half full. It can't be very encouraging for the actors, since this was a Saturday matinée in a London West End theatre.
I first saw Hobson's Choice over 35 years ago in Nottingham (I no longer remember which theatre). And of course there is the famous film with Charles Laughton and John Mills. I think it's a very entertaining play (by Harold Brighouse), although possibly not one which would attract too much attention.
Martin Shaw plays Henry Horatio Hobson. He came into his own in the second half, not being quite as dominant as I would have expected in the first two acts. It may be because it was a matinée, but I didn't feel he was as forceful as he should have been. By comparison Bryan Dick as Willie Mossop seemed strong all the way through, without the sense that he was being overpowered by Hobson. Although that might just have been because I know the plot. I was very pleased to see Bryan Dick in the role - originally he was supposed to be at the Chichester Festival in Half a Sixpence, but when they brought the play to London after touring, he arranged to stay with it. I wonder whether he might slightly regret the decision.
The set was excellent. Both Hobson's Salford high street shop and Mossop's small cellar shop were beautifully crafted and that and the costumes gave a good period feel to the play.
So overall it was a good day - Pizza Express with friends beforehand, an entertaining play and then a drink in the pub before I came home.
