Hobson's Choice - BBC Saturday Night Theater - Harold Brighouse
A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered. Because a person may refuse to accept what is offered, the two options are taking it or taking nothing. In other words, one may "take it or leave it".
The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544-1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest to the door or taking none at all.
Hobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title taken from the popular expression, Hobson's choice-meaning no choice at all (from Thomas Hobson 1545-1631 who ran a thriving livery stable in Cambridge).
The first production was at the Princess Theatre in New York. It then transferred to London on 24 June 1916 at the Apollo Theatre, before moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre on 20 November 1916 (starring Norman McKinnel, as Henry Hobson, Edyth Goodall as Maggie Hobson and Joe Nightingale as Willie Mossop). It was performed by the National Theatre at the Old Vic,London in 1964 (starring Michael Redgrave, Joan Plowright and Frank Finlay.) The play was adapted for film several times and as a Broadway musical. The Crucible Theatre Sheffield staged a revival in June 2011 directed by Christopher Luscombe and starring Barrie Rutter, Zoe Waites and Philip McGinley.
The story is set in Salford in 1880. It bears many resemblances to the stories of Cinderella and King Lear including a deceased mother; three daughters, two of whom are pretty and frivolous, the third of whom is clever and hardworking; and a fairy godmother (Mrs. Hepworth).
Originally Broadcast 5/18/1963
Saturday Night Theatre was a long-running radio drama strand on BBC Radio 4. The strand showcased feature-length, middle-brow single plays on Saturday evenings for more than 50 years, having been launched in April 1943. The plays featured in the strand included stage plays, book adaptations and original dramatisations. For most of its history, programmes ran for 90 minutes and were largely entertainment-centred, such as thrillers, comedies and mysteries.
Saturday Night Theatre was noted as the major drama of the week on BBC Radio 4, until it was scrapped as a programme strand in 1996. Shorter plays continued to be broadcast on Radio 4 on Saturday evenings from 1996 until the relaunch of the channel's schedule in April 1998 by James Boyle, when single dramas were removed from the Saturday evening schedule. Since 1998, the main weekly play on the station has been The Saturday Play, a daytime programme that runs for 60-90 minutes.
There have since been campaigns to bring back Saturday Night Theatre, but in the context of BBC budget cuts, that have included the 2010 axing of Radio 4's Friday Play (established in 1998, when Saturday Night Theatre was abolished), any return looks unlikely.
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Пікірлер: 39
Excellent! The film starring Charles Laughton was just as good. Thankyou 👍👍👍
@louisbrugnoni1291
3 жыл бұрын
Anything with Charles Laughton is good! 😊
Perfect to listen to on a sleepless night. Very enjoyable
@stewartlancaster6155
2 күн бұрын
would it be worth listening if you were asleep ?
Fantastic! One of my very fave movies of all time. Thanks Chester!
I recall this being broadcast. I think It came as news to many listeners that Wilfred Pickles was an actor. Excellent production of a fine play. It complements the wonderful David Lean film starring Charles Laughton & John Mills. Many thanks.
@jamescrowley8637
3 жыл бұрын
Wilfred Pickles played Billy's father in the film Billy Liar. Worth a look.
@JoanKentBible
2 ай бұрын
Wilfred Pickles was Such a gifted actor. 😊
How gorgeous a play. So well acted. Thank you so much
Lovely & Engaging! Absolutely loved the character voices!
Really, really enjoyed this, even though I was a bit iffy about it during the first 5 mins. It was sooo entertaining and the part of Will before he found his confidence was so well written and acted. The whole play was flying in the face of class distinction. As good as Ibsen would do only this had humour in it too. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful story and very entertaining.
Fabulous entertainment! Thank you fo sharing 👍
Absolutely fantastic...
Loved this one, thankyou for putting this on for us to enjoy
Fantastic!!
Loved this play. Remember the movie and the play did justice. Thanks Chesterton Radio for supplying all your entertaining plays. Just about to start the brilliant Noel Crawford plays next.
Some light relief no heavy storeyline here. After listening to The hound of the Baskervilles
Bernard Cribbins makes a wonderful Will Mossop 🙂
Really enjoyed this, thank you 🌻
Great film with Charles houghton and John mills
Delightful entertainment. Ended too soon.
I’m 30 minutes in and I love Maggie to bits🤣
@gilllongano5360
Жыл бұрын
And me. Ba goom, lucky Will!
Eyup! . . . . reet gradely is this. Champion.
Spot on. Full of northern grit. Hobson got his just desserts.
One of my favs! Such a great cast! Have you ever seen the like of those "humps"?! 😁 Thank you Chesterton Radio!
@TedaR
2 жыл бұрын
@AMT You knew.., Remember you found me here on Chesterton a long time ago. lol
Been a while since I've played my jews-harp/s (usually play other instruments)! However, I'm certain tthat piece of music (minus the jews-harp) was used for the TV comedy 'Open All Hours'!
When this was broadcast, wasn't Radio 4 then called the Light Programme or the Home Service?
I love the comments!
With all those Northern accents, it's like listening to a George Formby movie.
Oh wow this Maggie character 😆
My wife told me to say that.
Behind every Great man is a Woman when that man realises she is in front.
A Woke BBC version of Hobson's Choice would only be worth listening to for the curiosity value: this version is superb from the glory days of the BBC.
I like the Jew's Harp being played. Jolly good show.
@stevie-ray2020
2 жыл бұрын
Been a while since I've played mine! However, that piece of music (minus the jews-harp) was used for the TV comedy 'Open All Hours'!
🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆🤣