Photo by Rafael Lopez.
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Hobson’s Choice
A Period Comedy in Two Acts
Adapted from the 1915 play by Harold Brighouse
"winsome… proudly, lushly tonal, revelling in arias, ensembles and soaring Straussian expansion.”
-William Albright - Opera Magazine with Opera News, January 2026
Premiered by the Moores School of Music, October 2025
Kathleen Belcher, Artistic and Stage Director
Conducted by Jorge Parodi Set Design by Jefferson Ridenour
Background
Setting: Boston, ca. 1900
Synopsis: Widower Henry Hobson, the tippling owner of a boot shop rules over his three daughters. The oldest, Maggie, is smart and independent. Her father, recognizing that Maggie is the reason for the success of his business, resolves to keep her at home and under his thumb. But Maggie is determined to make her own life, even if it means defying her father, marrying his talented yet shy and illiterate bootmaker, and opening a rival boot shop. In its exploration of gender roles, class, and social mobility, Hobson’s Choice was far ahead of its time.
Characters
Maggie Hobson, eldest daughter of Henry Hobson… mezzo
Henry Horatio Hobson, owner of Hobson’s Boot Shop… baritone
Will Mossop, bootmaker… tenor
Alice Hobson, Hobson’s second daughter… soprano
Vickey Hobson, Hobson’s youngest daughter… soprano
Albert Prosser, a lawyer and Alice’s love interest… bass-baritone
Fred Beenstock, son of a merchant, Vickey’s love interest… baritone
Mrs. Hepworth, a wealthy woman… mezzo-soprano
Orchestration: flute, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, trombone, percussion, timpani, harp, piano, and strings (6-5-4-3-2 minimum).
Sets, Structure, and Duration: The opera, in three acts, employs two sets. The first set is Hobson’s shop, and the second is the basement where Maggie and Will make their home. The structure closely follows that of the original play. The duration is two hours (including one intermission).