Hobson’s Choice is chiefly remembered
today as a very good old (1954) movie starring Charles Laughton. But there is also a ballet based on the same
turn-of the-century play, and if you like ballet – if even if you don’t – you
might seek it out. It will open your
eyes and ears.
The
ballet is by David Bintley, and the music was composed by Paul Reade. The only
performance that was recorded, as far as I know, is by the Birmingham Royal
Ballet Company in 1992, and I believe it is available. (I taped it when it was
broadcast on Bravo a long time ago.)
The
story: Hobson, a bootmaker, has three daughters who run the shop under their
father’s iron hand. Hobson is irresponsible and an alcoholic, and the shop
survives only through the hard work of the bootmaker Will Mossop, who labors unseen
and unrewarded. Hobson dominates his
daughters, for whom marriage is out of the question. But the oldest daughter,
Maggie, has an independent streak, as well as an eye for Will Mossop. I will
reveal no more, other than to say that the story ends happily.
The
principal dancers are Michael O’Hare (Will Mossop) and Karen Donovan (Maggie),
and they are excellent. Hobson is played by Desmond Kelly, a veteran dancer who
is also the production’s ballet master.
The
music is beautiful. Composer Reade has chosen to interpolate an old song, Lily of Laguna, which adds greatly to a
pivotal scene. The orchestrations make full use of the large Royal Ballet
Orchestra; in fact, the audio quality of the recording exceeds the video
quality – a reflection of the state of technology in 1992.
I
know next to nothing about ballet, but I know what I like, and I like David
Bintley’s ballet very much. If you’re
interested, you can sample a bit of it by searching YouTube.
