Hobson's Choice - The Lowry - 23/01/08 by Kashif Naveed

Hobson's Choice began its run at what must be its spiritual home - Salford's The Lowry Theatre - this week, and I was privileged enough to grab a much sought after ticket to witness first hand the majestic production of one of the classics of English literature.

Packed to the rafters and brimming full of an audience that was totally agog with anticipation as it eagerly awaited the performance of Jahn Savident in the lead role. He was, as you all will no doubt remember dear readers, the affable, portly and curmudgeonly butcher Fred Elliot in Coronation Street. Indeed, such was his infamy that the production was almost created for him, with producer Kenny Wax not giving the green light until he knew Savident was available for the role.

As well he might have done, for if there was any man in these northern shires that were born to play Hobson, then John Savident fits the bill as good as anyone. Of course I say born, he has more or less matured into the role with having played Fred Elliot for nigh on a decade, a character that has more than one similar trait to that of Hobson. Add to that his distinguishable Lancashire undertone, his portliness and you wonder if Harold Brighouse had written the part specifically for him!

Indeed, the pompousness, pomposity and stubborn arrogance is easily captured by Savident in a truly captivating performance. He commands the stage like a leviathan and whilst it is true that the lines become blurred between whether we are watching Fred Elliot the butcher or Henry Horatio Hobson the bootmaker, it is never too much to know which is which. Indeed, if you can leave your preconceptions at the door then you will see Savident subtly play on the nuances of Brighouse’s character in what really is a tour de force.

Of course this is more than just a vehicle for John Savident aka Fred Elliot the butcher. Indeed, Brighouse’s Salford set comedy is more than just about Hobson and therein lies the secret to not only its success but the foundation to any successful production of Hobson. Director Jonathan Church and his motley backstage crew do Brighouse proud by assembling a fine cast that allows his wondrous plot to shine through.

After all it was Brighouse himself that remarked: “In play-writing, I put character first. But character must have something to be characteristic about – in one word, plot”

The story of Hobson is much about his beleagured daughters or about class divisions within places such as Salford as about Hobson himself. To this end we have a marvellous cast that holds its side of the bargain in making Brighouse’s plot come through with Carolyn Backhouse and Dylan Charles excelling in particular as Maggie Hobson and William Mossop.

And lest not forget that there are some fine comedic moments in Brighouse’s play and for that matter in this particular production. You will find yourself laughing as if it becomes second nature, and by the time the curtains have come down you’ll be starting every sentence with the words “by ‘eck”.