Review of Hobson's Choice
Russ Bickerstaff
Shepherd Express
March 3rd, 2005 |
A Woman's Tenacity |
The Acacia Theatre Company returns with its second show of the season: a faithful production of Harold Brighouse's 1915 drama Hobson's Choice. It's a story revealing the comedy of humane evolution behind the drama of every social revolution. Written three years before women gained the right to vote in England, it shows the struggle of women's suffrage through the mercurial tenacity of a single woman.
Boot-maker Henry Hobson (Walter Boyer) is a draconian businessman in 1880s England. He manages his shop with heartlessly bureaucratic efficiency. His will is thrust upon his three daughters, who work the shop to sell his stock. Boyer plays Hobson with a Scrooge-like humor that is complemented well by the rest of the cast. Rachel Ade and Maya M. Norman play his youngest daughters, bent uncomfortably under his will as they work the shop. Angered by a statement about her lack of marriage prospects, eldest daughter Maggie (a powerful Danielle York) pressures William Mossop (Actor's Equity talent Richard Gustin,), the most talented boot-smith in her father's shop, to marry him and start their own business. The changes that follow are as unavoidable as cause and effect, mutation and evolution.
Directors Beth Kavelaris and Janet Bouman Peterson craft a well-integrated production from limited resources. Acting flows together quite well, even though ages of characters don't always synch-up perfectly with the actor's ages and a variety of different British accents seem to fade in and out of audibility. The speed and intensity of the performance is well-modulated. The plot elements effortlessly fall into place with thematic intensity. Boyer's performance as Henry Hobson is comedy of obsolescence. His iron-will is undermined by Maggie's swift adaptability, so expertly played by York.
The drama of social evolution plays out as Hobson's business suffers from the success of Mossop's shop. Maggie's boldness with Mossop is fascinating to watch in many ways, building up to a compelling resolution at the end of the third act. As good as the production is, it doesn't manage to keep the fourth act from seeming like anything more than a bit unnecessary. Brighouse drones on through the decay of the old business and its fate as we watch the curtain slowly fall on Hobson's success.
Everything that happens in this final act could've been safely placed in the end of Act III.
Continuing the dialogue.....
Hobson's Choice
Dear Friend,
As a theater ministry, Acacia seeks to offer high quality theater, which affords the opportunity to view one's life in relationship to the fullness of God's truth. We pray that our shows offer an occasion for thanksgiving, growth, enjoyment and understanding. Without detracting from the theater experience which we hope you enjoyed; and obviously without foreknowledge of topics dealt with in the "Talk Back", we would like to continue the dialogue by sharing some of the thoughts that the board of directors discussed after reading this play.
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Choice???! Perhaps the greatest gift Our Heavenly Father ever gave, and yet the most difficult gift for humans to manage. So many of us feel it would be simpler if God just told us what to do. It would be so much better if we were not confused or ambiguous about our feelings about things. If we lacked personal choice we would never fail to live the life God intended for us. But alas, our God is a gracious and demanding God. He allows us the choice of loving Him or turning away from Him. He demands that we actively choose Him on a daily basis. Sounds simple right? But nothing is that simple.
Hobson is presented with choices throughout this story, and yet none of his choices seem easy to him. As an audience we can see the wisdom in Maggie’s offers to her father and his foolish pride is evident to us, the outside observers. But imagine yourself in a situation fraught with change and unclear outcomes… Humankind does not change easily. We fight tooth and nail to stay where we are, whether that is a good place or not. “Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t.” as the old saying goes.
The Prophets often pointed the way to the Father, yet the people chose to turn away. People do not often realize that relationships need nurturing and constant care. This includes the relationship we have with God. Each day we must renew our commitment to the Father and it must be a conscious choice. Many of us call on Him for help in times of trouble, but fail to thank Him and praise Him in good times and even in everyday life.
“For they turn their backs, never their faces; yet when trouble comes they shout, ‘Get up! Save us!’” Jeremiah. 2:28
Choices are funny things. We often say that we want our independence, we want our freedom. Those things are shown to be of great importance to Hobson, and in choosing these things he seals his fate. He is perfectly free to make his own choice. God allows him this freedom of will, but thus allows him to choose unwisely and have to live with the consequences.
Luckily for Hobson, Maggie and her sisters show their father the love and forgiveness taught through Christ. They allow him to repent and again enter the fold of his family.
“For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the standards you use shall be the standard used for you.” Matthew 7:1-2
God asks us to mindfully choose Him and rescue ourselves through His healing Spirit. He allows us free will to make choices, but even if we consistently chose to turn away from Him, He is steadfast and waits for us. He does not turn away, He longs for our return and He welcomes us home when we do choose Him.
“Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the 99 on the hillside and go in search of the stray? In truth I tell you, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the 99 that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” Matthew. 18:12-14
Consider the gift of free will. It is a gift that comes with responsibility and freedom; a gift Our Heavenly Father has entrusted to us and has enough faith in us to choose rightly. It is a gift given also to remind us of His ultimate forgiveness through Christ Jesus. Consider this gift, contemplate it, and choose wisely.
Sincerely,
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY, INC.
