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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Homely Courtroom drama The Winslow Boy
Highbury Theatre Centre
**** THE autumn season at Highbury opened with
the very powerful but understated The Winslow Boy by Terrence Rattigan. Set in the household of a middle class English family in 1911, it tells the story of a young 13 year old boy Ronnie Winslow who is accused of a minor theft and so dismissed from a navel college. He protests his innocence and his father starts a
campaign to clear his name that has deep implications to his family’s
happiness and one that reaches public debate in parliament, a change in
law and becomes a national celebration of justice. Rattigan based his play on a real life event of
the time and as a play it is masterful exercise in producing what
effectively becomes a courtroom drama all set inside one room of the
Winslow family home. Highbury have done a fine job of casting here
creating a very authentic family unit and with excellent direction by
Alison Cahill the story remains interesting throughout its long 2 hour
10 minutes running time and that alone is something of an achievement. The head of the household Arthur Winslow is
played by Robert Alexander who delivers an excellent, quietly assured
performance of a man faced with the challenge of upholding the Winslow
name and the greater needs of his family.
The daughter Catherine played by effectively Emma
Woodcock is perhaps the first independent woman character in any play of
its time as she is an outspoken supporter of women's suffrage, and
eventually becomes the energy behind her father’s cause. She never
flinches when her engagement to Captain John Watherstone played by Mark
Mulkeen is broken by the public scandal of her younger brother’s trial. The older son Dickie is played by Jack Hobbis a
regular face now at Highbury and his performance never fails to give an
air of confident security to scenes when things start to waver a little. The task of playing Ronnie, the victim of the
injustice, fell to newcomer Christian Blunden and whilst he is the
central part of the play, Rattigan keeps his part cleverly as a
supporting role. Another pair of newcomers was Sean Mulkeen , as
the family friend and solicitor Desmond Curry, and reporter Miss Barnes
played by Suzanne Brimley who, in contrast to the woman’s movement of
time, is made out to be more interested in the Winslow curtains
than the legal case. Sandra Haynes played Violet the doting housemaid
and finally Robert Hicks handled the role of the famous Barrister Sir
Robert Morton. After what was a moderately quiet start to the play
it fell to Mr Hicks to wake very one up with a blistering cross
examination of the Winslow boy in the family home. From then on the play
begins to grow in its interest as the course is set to either public
humiliation or triumph With a very nice set by Malcombe Robertshaw the
Highbury team have kicked the season off with and excellent production
that keeps you engaged throughout in this tale of the ordinary man
versus the might of the establishment. To 20-09-1 Jeff Grant
09-09-14 |
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