Hobson's Choice

Tanika Gupta, Harold Brighouse

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2003
• ISBN:
  9781849438902
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism in Drama
• Index: Literature

Widower Hari Hobson has a successful dress-making business and three daughters. The oldest, Durga, is the brains behind the operation. 'Can't we choose husbands for ourselves?' I've been telling you for the last five minutes, you're not even fit to choose dresses for yourselves.' But when Hobson says that Durga is too valuable to lose and must give up all idea of getting married, she takes her fate into her own hands and starts her own rival shop nearby. Tanika Gupta's new version of this classic 1916 comedy sets the play in a modern day Salford Asian community, giving a new generation a chance to enjoy the play's sharp wit and charm. This version of Hobson's Choice was performed at the Young Vic, London, June - August 2003.

ACT 1

As the lights go up, we hear the sound of sewing machines whirring from a back room.

We are inside HOBSON’S tailor’s shop in Tib street, Manchester. A large flower-garlanded photograph of Ted Heath hangs in pride of place above the counter with a statue of the elephant God, Ganesh, below. We see an array of women’s saris and salwar kamizes on display. They range from functional 1980’s style to silk evening wear. There are also men’s suits on a rail, both western and eastern, ties, Kashmiri shawls and wedding gear. Basically an eclectic mix.

The shop however, is shabby and run down and has not seen a lick of paint in several years.

House music from the era of 1987 blasts out as SUNITA and RUBY practice a dance routine in the shop. They are dressed in salwar kamizes looking every bit the ‘good Indian girl’ but dancing like Hacienda club queens.

DURGA enters and gives them both a look. SUNITA and RUBY abruptly stop their dancing and switch off the radio.

Sunita and Ruby have Manchester accents, whilst Durga has a Manchester accent with a slight Ugandan Asian influence.

SUNITA: Oh, it’s you Durga. I were hoping it were Papa on his way out.

DURGA: It isn’t

SUNITA: He’s late this morning.

DURGA: He got up late.

DURGA busies herself with a fat ledger filled with bills and papers. She uses a calculator.

RUBY: Has he had breakfast Durga?

DURGA: Breakfast? Hah! After last night?

SUNITA: Oh – it was the Asian businessmen’s Association meeting wasn’t it?

RUBY: Dunno why they call ‘em meetings. Just piss ups. He’ll need reviving.

SUNITA checks her hair and make up in a mirror – RUBY yawns heavily, gets out her novel and settles down to read (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.)

SUNITA: Wish he’d get on with it.

DURGA: Sunita – expecting someone?

SUNITA: A friend might drop by.

DURGA: This is the same ‘friend’ you climb out of the window at night to go clubbing at the Hacienda with?

SUNITA is embarrassed to have been caught out but belligerent.

SUNITA: What I do with my life is none of your business. You’re not my mother.

DURGA: I know you go to acid house raves. But I’m not judging you. Just hope you don’t take that elation drug.

RUBY laughs

RUBY: You mean ecstasy?

DURGA: How do you know what it’s called?

RUBY: ‘Cos I live in the real world and I know stuff.

DURGA: ‘Cos you’ve been going out with Suni too.

It’s RUBY’S turn to look embarrassed.

DURGA: I heard you both giggling like idiots at dawn when you fell back in through your bedroom window – Ruby. Made quite a racket. Just as well Papa was passed out with the drink.

SUNITA: You won’t tell him will you Durga?

DURGA: What d’you take me for?

STEPHEN DA SILVA enters from the street. He is a young, well spoken Asian man in his mid-twenties, wearing a suit. He looks like a smart solicitor. He crosses the shop making a bee line for SUNITA.

STEVE: Alright Suni? Looking gorgeous this morning.

SUNITA: Thank you Steve.

My father’s still here.

STEVE: (Worried.) Oh!

STEVE turns to leave but DURGA stops him.

DURGA: What can we do for you?

STEVE: I didn’t really come to buy anything…Miss Hobson.

DURGA: This is a shop you know.

STEVE: Alright – I’ll have a tie then. A plain one’ll do. Nothing flash –

STEVE idly picks out a plain tie from the rack. DURGA looks at STEVE thoughtfully.

DURGA: Let me see- chest size forty…collar fifteen and a half…?

STEVE looks wary. DURGA whips out a tape measure and measures his chest. He looks helplessly over at SUNITA.

DURGA: Yes…exactly as I thought 40 inches. Now – inside leg.

DURGA hands over the end of the tape measure to STEVE who holds it bemused.

DURGA: Come on!

STEVE places the end of the tape measure self-consciously at the top of his inside leg. DURGA bends down at his feet and reads out the measurement.

DURGA: Thirty- two and a half.

STEVE: Does it matter to the tie?

DURGA: It matters to the suit.

She measures the length of his jacket and his waist.

STEVE: But…

DURGA: (To Ruby.) Bring me one of them suits that came in from last week’s shipment – Steve’s size. (To Steve.). We import them from exclusive tailors in Bangalore – MG Ro...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Characters
• Act 1
• Act 2
• Act 3
• Act 4