REVIEWER - GARY WEST

COMPELLING PLAY MOSTLY GETS IT RIGHT

Terence Rattigan's classic Edwardian play is a compelling and heart-warming story of a family which places more faith in their child than the governmental ruling system of the day. Based on a true story that occurred in 1911, Julian Oldfield's excellent production opened last night.

The Winslow Boy is a young naval cadet expelled from the Osborne Naval College for stealing a postal order. His father, Arthur Winslow, a banker and prominent member of society, sacrifices everything in order to seek justice and to prove his son's innocence.

Arthur, with the help of his daughter, Catherine, employs Sir Robert Morton a Powerful lawyer, to prove his son's innocence. Robert's slogan, "let right be done", becomes the central theme of play.

We see the family tangle with the British Navy, demand the right to sue the crown and even force a full debate in the House of Commons, all over five shillings. What the family is really fighting for is their honour and their right to a fair trial under British law.

Arthur Winslow is Played by John Bolger, who presents the paternal character as humble, but stubborn in his determination, and who believably withers away physically during the course of the Play. Dylan Shalless is Ronnie the Young Winslow in question. Catherine Taylor is the nurturing matriarch Grace Winslow. Her progression from cool dignity to emotionally frayed serves as the prism for the family's experience. Mary-Rose McLaren as the feminist daughter Catherine is pivotal to the story and delivers an outstanding performance. The play works on many levels, not least the way this traditional British family is torn apart by the emotional and financial pressure of fighting a seemingly impossible case, but also revealing the courage in the pursuit of truth and honour. Apart from a few flaws in the storyline this excellent National Theatre production is well worth seeing.