Is winning at any cost really worth it? This is the central question posed in Terence Rattigan’s ‘The Winslow Boy’.
The year is 1908 and thirteen-year-old Ronnie Winslow (Bertie Ketterer) has been accused of petty theft. It is alleged he stole a five-shilling postal order and is then expelled from Osborne Naval College. However, Ronnie insists his innocence. His father, Arthur Winslow (Clive Brill) stands by him and vows to fight to clear his son’s name by instructing the best and most expensive barrister. The battle ‘to have right done’ commences – but the fall out has far reaching consequences.
At this point one may expect some court room drama, but this is a firmly family-drama based affair with the esteemed barrister Sir Robert Morton (Will Harrison-Wallace) visiting the home and updating on events of the day. Court shenanigans are also unfurled to the audience via family members including the mother Grace (Elizabeth Healey) and daughter Catherine (Alex Constantinidi). This is an interesting device for it allows each to reveal their prejudices and shines a light on the ever-deepening family divisions.
At the play’s heart is the exploration of family sacrifice – and the bonds that tie the Winslow family together. In pursuing such over-the-top legal action for a relatively petty offence, Arthur has created a disproportionate fuss which has created a further out-of-scale set of consequences which affects all family members. One cannot help but question his sanity – as indeed, at times, he does himself.
Is the cost of justice really worth blowing up a marriage and a happy family home? When does an issue become so important that it overrides all other matters? Should the potential win be weighed against the cost of loss for others? And ultimately, should cost come into the equation when honour is at stake? We are reminded throughout: principles are expensive.
‘The Winslow Boy’ is a hefty and lengthy journey with the performance running for over two and a half hours. At times it did feel repetitive and draggy, and rather dreary. However, it is a skilled production which poses big moral questions still pertinent to this day and will have you wondering: what in life is really worth fighting for?
Running Tuesday 23rd July – 27th July 2024, https://fst-odes.co.uk/products/
Reviewer: Samantha Collett
Reviewed: 23rd July 2024
North West End UK Rating: