Hobson's Choice story guide

ACT I  |  ACT II  |  ACT III

Scene 1: Beenstock's corn warehouse, morning
Hobson emerges from the trap and, at Maggie's instigation, Fred and Albert serve Hobson a writ for trespass and damages.

Scene 2: Mossop's boot shop, Oldfield Road
Mossop's shop is a dingy cellar, but the business has already met with some success. Will and Maggie are happy returning from their wedding. Alice and Vickey, with their sweethearts, are reluctantly present. When their father arrives they hide. Hobson asks Maggie's advice about the writ: he foresees financial ruin and the defamation of his 'good name'. Maggie summons the couples out of hiding. She tells Hobson that if he allows his daughters to marry their sweethearts, the charges against him will all be dropped. Hobson storms out, but his compliance is evident.

Scene 3: Hobson¹s shop, nine months later
Hobson has drunk himself into a dangerous state of health. His shop has lost all its business and he is in debt. Creditors arrive demanding payment of their bills. Hobson solicits the help of his daughters to relieve his financial embarrassment. Alice and Vickey give him the cold shoulder but Maggie and Will agree to pay his debts on condition that he hands over the shop to Will, becomes a sleeping partner and the firm be called 'Mossop and Hobson'. Hobson is forced to agree and Will is left to contemplate his newfound position. In less than a year he has risen from boot hand to Master.

DAVID BINTLEY