The Winslow Boy, Oxford Playhouse - Review

The Oxford Playhouse continues their summer season of drama with The Winslow Boy, a play by Terrence Rattigan and directed by Stephen Unwin. The story follows the plight of a young navel cadet, Ronnie Winslow, who is accused of stealing a five-shilling postal order from another cadet and is subsequently expelled. From this seemingly simple premise, the action of the play is taken up by the father’s attempts to clear both his son’s name and his reputation. The play’s central theme, ‘let right be done’, still has great resonance for modern audiences. Arthur Winslow must convince the Attorney General to allow them to bring a case to court against the Admiralty so that he has a chance to prove his innocence, made difficult because the Admiralty is the domain of the crown. In a time of Guantanamo Bay and the UK government’s attempts to change legislation to give them more power when detaining terrorist suspects, the theme of having the human right to justice certainly resonates with modern audiences.

Set designer Simon Higlett brilliantly recreates an Edwardian drawing room in which all the action takes place, expertly arranged so that it offers the sense of a much larger, grander home complete with conservatory and dining room. Although all the action takes place here, it is through the conversations of the characters that vividly depict the off-stage action, such as the court case, so that the static, handsome set does not constrict the story. All the principal actors are excellent, but particularly Timothy West as the obstreperous father who really brought wonderful crotchety humour to the role, as well as great pathos. Thomas Howes as Dickie Winslow, the eldest son, really got the right note of bally-ho charm and dim wittedness. The rather hapless maid Violet is the subject of much comedy in the play, and Sarah Flind who plays here is pitch-perfect (she also plays her in the 1999 film by David Mamet). Adrian Lukis as the rather frightening Sir Robert Morton relishes his finest moment – the cross examination of the young boy Ronnie Winslow.

Brilliantly acted and well directed, this play, despite being over sixty-years old, is a delightful slice of Edwardian English life, a play whose fate could have been, like so many others, consigned to the ash pit of history, if not for the brilliant writing and themes that are still relevant today. The fact that the play is set just before the First World War during a time of great political and social upheaval won’t be lost on modern audiences. The motif of Parry’s Jerusalem that weaves throughout the production also seems devilishly ironic, considering the play was first staged after both World Wars when the ‘long Edwardian summer’ of gentility he had portrayed was well and truly over. The Winslow Boy is a credit to Oxford Playhouse’s reputation, and is truly a gem for theatre lovers.

Official Website for Oxford Playhouse