BWW Reviews: THE WINSLOW BOY in Stratford

Sir Terence Rattigan's play, The Winslow Boy closed the 25th season of Stratford's Square One Theatre Company. The nine actors are well cast as the well-to-do and decent Winslow family of five, maid, lawyer, and friend.

Rattigan's play is based on a true cause celebre which set legal precedence in England that a person could challenge the government. The story is about a pre-World War I 13-year-old naval student who is expelled from the Royal Naval College for allegedly stealing and cashing a five shilling postal order. He says he is innocent, and his family believes him. So does the renowned barrister who defends him. What makes this story different from other courtroom dramas is that it takes place solely in the drawing room of the Winslow home. The audience hears what happened in court without ever seeing the lawyers in their uniform of court dress (including the little pocket in which their clients put in their sovereign coins) and wigs.

Now back up a bit. A postal order? Five shillings? Yes, this is the kind of language that's in the play, and for that reason, this critic would love to see the play updated. The story is still contemporary, despite the dated language. Although money orders are still available at the post office and Western Union still has its logo at large supermarkets, this is a world that understands PayPal, bitcoins and international wire transfers. Some innocent people lose their social and economic standing if a fraud is committed (think: Bernie Madoff's big feeder funds, yet some of the partners are inexplicably employed by other fund managers!!!). Some small fry even go to prison because evidence is withheld and plea bargains are negotiated. In between, some guilty people go to prison because they didn't steal big enough. Seriously. Also a bit of tightening in addition to updating the phrases would allow for more tension between the characters, particularly Catherine and her fiancé, John Watherstone, family solicitor and friend Desmond Curry, and renowned lawyer Sir Robert Morton. Also, it's hard for audiences today to envision a 13-year-old training for the defense force in a country that does not have child soldiers. Even in American history, a kid that age was a midshipman with a lot of responsibilities, but he was not an adult. Today's audience would be more comfortable with someone of college age. It is important to understand the difference in thinking about serving one's country. In Britain, it is a great honor and aristocrats such as the Queen's grandsons serve. In the U.S. the men and women who volunteer to serve are looked upon as an underclass. While the Winslows understand on one level that even if Ronnie were guilty, it is not a big deal in the long run. This is not just about justice, but about doing right, and that is why it is so important to the Winslows to clear Ronnie's name.

All this said, let's get back to the production at Square One Theatre Company. Tom Holehan's maintains his excellence as a director. Greg Fairbend and Robert Mastroni's set design is exactly what we expect from that time period for a family that is well-heeled, but hardly filthy rich - floral wall paper, traditional furniture ready to be handed down to the next generation and/or homeowners. Judy Keegan's costumes are lovely. The lighting by Clifford Fava complements the set and flatters the actors, but Don Henault could have turned the sound up a bit. Sam Noccioli is impressive as Ronnie Winslow, the young chap who is falsely accused of theft. Ryan Hendrickson and Tess Brown are believable as older siblings Dickie and Catherine. Brown has the more enviable role because she plays a woman who is a suffragette and someone who is close to 30, and knows that she is going to risk being a social outsider if she doesn't marry soon. Jim Buffone is credible as her fair weather fiancé. David Victor plays her back up suitor nicely, and with the expected respect and restraint of the era. The chemistry between Brown and Joseph Maker begs for a sequel to the play. Ann Kinner and Bruce Murray play Grace and Arthur Winslow with such comfort you would think they've been married in real life for decades. Lucy Babbitt is delightful as Violet, the chatterbox maid.

The Winslow Boy runs through May 30 at Square One Theatre Company, 2422 Main Street, Stratford. Call 203-375-8778 or visit www.squareonetheatre.com.

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