Classic North England Comedy for Playlovers
TAKE a family from Lancashire in the north of England in 1880. Add their boot shop business, employees, customers and friends. Throw in a few parallels to Cinderella and King Lear.
What do you get? Classic comedy Hobson’s Choice, at Playlovers (WA) from April 27.
Written by Harold Brighouse, the title comes from the expression “Hobson's choice”, meaning no choice at all.
The play has been adapted for film several times, as well as the Broadway musical Walking Happy.
Director James Hough-Neilson, who has previously directed the play, said Hobson’s Choice is a classic of which people never tire
“The head of the family is called Harold Hobson and he is helped by three daughters in their boot shop,” he said.
“The accents used will be familiar to watchers of British television programs.
“It’s a real comedy everybody can enjoy.”
A professional actor, on and off, for the past 62 years, Hough-Neilson has a wealth of experience behind him – and then some.
He studied at London Drama School, then spent three years learning and performing a play a week in repertory theatre and appeared in the number one West End play Summer Seasons. Numerous UK television appearances followed, along with radio work and various commercials.
In WA, Hough-Neilson has worked with Stirling, Limelight and Playlovers Theatres over the past 23 years, performing in or directing productions such as Breaker Morant, The Late Edwina Black, Showboat, The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, The Importance of Being Earnest, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
His 2006 production of The Judas Kiss at Playlovers received best director, best play, best costumes and best supporting actor accolades at the annual Finley Awards.
“My main challenge with Hobson’s Choice is to assist the actors with the Lancashire dialect – fortunately there are some cast members familiar with it,” Hough-Neilson said.
“It is always easier to learn when you are with natural speakers.
“The other challenge, as always, is your responsibility to the audience, as well as the author, to bring the story alive to make sure nothing is missed.”
Hobson’s Choice plays at 8pm, April 27, 28, May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 and 7pm, May 6.
Bookings: 0415 777 173 or bookings@playlovers.org.au.
Playlovers is located at Hackett Hall, Draper Street, Floreat.
Images: (from top) Will Mossop (Gordon Park) receives the amorous attentions of Vickey (Kate O’Sullivan) and Alice (Nicole Kaminksi); Love is in the air for Albert (Brendan Ellis) and Alice (Nicole Kaminski) and Vickey (Kate O’Sullivan) and Jim Beenstock (Josh Lang), & All is not well when Dr MacFarlan (George McCabe), right, visits Maggie (Jeanette Hotop) and Harold Hobson (Andy Markland) in Hobson’s Choice.
More Reading
Community Theatre Seasons 2012 - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/community-theatre-seasons-2012
More Community Theatre - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre
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