By Terence Rattigan
Directed by Stephen Unwin
Rose Theatre Kingston
7th – 30th May

Timothy West is magnificent as Arthur Winslow in this production of The Winslow Boy. His poise, stillness and stature on stage are complemented by his immaculate timing and makes this superb production a delight to watch. One actor alone cannot make a production and Mr West is supported by a host of very able actors, Claire Cox as Catherine Winslow gives a very strong performance and others of particular note are Hugh Wyld (Ronnie Winslow), Adrian Lukis (Sir Robert Morton) and the lovely Diane Fletcher (Grace Winslow).
The set is a delight to view and Stephen Unwin’s direction ensures that it is used to its maximum potential in this fairly recently opened space.

The plot is very well known. Young Ronnie has been accused and sentenced of stealing a postal order and has been expelled as a navel cadet from his school. The family are terrified of the reaction from his elderly father, Arthur, but, to the surprise of them all, Arthur believes his son and is determined to defend his boy against impossible odds and at unbelievable cost. Arthur is not a rich man, his daughter, Catherine becomes engaged to the man she thinks she loves and his elder son, Dickie (Thomas Howes), is an idler at university. He manages to interest a notable brief, Sir Robert Morton, but the first challenge is to establish that they have a right to sue the crown for a trial before they can establish the innocence of young Ronnie. Catherine’s engagement plans fall apart, Dickie has to leave university early to work in a bank and the health of Arthur steadily becomes worse.

There are reasons why Rattigan has fallen out of favour in the modern theatre world, although the Rose, with this production and already has The Browning Version lined up in a few months time, is trying to redress that. First of all this play written in the late 1940’s, is set in the 1910’s and several of the crucial sub plot issues had already been resolved, for example women’s suffrage and the political tension with the onset of the great war would have been very tried issues after the political swing at the end of the second world war. Secondly I find the play so obvious. The boy will always be found innocent, the girl will always fall out of love, some how what ever will be turns out for the best and all end up happy.
Indeed one of the strengths of this production is that the director manages to get tension into the acting, that the dramatic moments do turn out to be dramatic moments, that the audience do feel empathy for the characters. I really did feel for Ronnie when Sir Robert was grilling him about what had occurred before he took the case. I did feel very sorry for Catherine was being jilted by John (John Sackville). I did feel huge sympathy for Desmond Curry (Roger May) as the onetime sporting hero, who despite his charming nature was never able to charm the woman that he was in love with. I felt for both John and for Dickie with their misplaced optimism of the Great War to be. I especially felt for poor Violet (Sarah Flind) when they were discussing her past and her possible redundancy when the money ran out. Some superb acting with some masterful direction was needed and was delivered.

So all things considered this was a very enjoyable evening, a very nicely designed set, some superb acting strongly directed and the incomparable, masterful Timothy West.

Reviewed by Evan Rule