Reader Reviews
The Winslow Boy (Old Vic Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The Rattigan revival continues with this timeless clasic which shows no signs of dating and in fact, in its treatment of press behaviour, feels remarkably current. Lindsay Posner directs a very respectful production which, rather like his recent Uncle Vanya, does get a bit bogged down at times but really catches fire during Sir Henry Morton's much imitated brutal cross examination of the unfortunate Winslow boy. Henry Goodman superbly conveys the dibilitating effects of the long drawn out proceedings but I didn't get a sense of the fierce passion for justice that drives him on and Deborah Findlay is perhaps too strong an actor to be totally convincing as the rather shallow Mrs Winslow. However, Naomi Frederick is excellent as the sufragette sister with her own reasons for pursuing the case despite her doubts and beautifully portrays her shifting attitudes to the men in her life. Peter Sullivan is magnificently saturnine as Morton although he does speak awfully quickly. Some of the supporting performances are less successful but there is a nice cameo from Jay Villiers as a lovelorn former Test cricketer turned plodding solicitor. Rattigan again proves to be a master of plot and characterisation and I suspect his plays will continue to be revived long after Pinter, Osbourne and others have been forgotten. - David Baxter | 16 May 13 |
| I agree with the 4 star comments but I feel we are all going to agree to differ on our views of this production. The height of Ronnie was not the first concern on my mind.Perhaps the Director tried to extract too much farcial comedy from this serious minded play but I thought the acting, design and production of this classic Rattigan were all excellent. - Rob | 24 Mar 13 |
| I agree with the negative reviews. I have seen this play in much better productions. This version is rather disappointing. - Bernie | 23 Mar 13 |
| Like Joe, I think I also must have attended a different play as the performance I saw last night was theatre and acting at its very best. A very elegant revival led by Henry Goodman which had the audience cheering. - Eoghan | 22 Mar 13 |
| Well maybe I was watching a different play but I thought it was excellent and one of the best night's theatre in a long time after The Audience of course. Great set and Great cast as far as I am concerned specially Henry Goodman and Deborah Findlay - Joe Spiteri | 20 Mar 13 |
| Too many weak pweformances for me, the daughter faced out front too much,the journalist was too fussy and Wendy Nottingham (an actress I admire) messed up badly Voilet last big speach about what happened in the court by moving about too much. The boy was tall for a 14 year old. - Paul Scott | 20 Mar 13 |
| The show lacked subtlety and realism through bad direction. Many of it's finest lines were not delivered properly and the stereotypical "over the top performances" destroyed the pathos at the core of the script. The crude overplaying ( not the actor's fault) and the incorrect timing of several lines resulted in inappropriate "comedy" while at the same time many of the truly funny lines were not "pointed" properly and fell flat. Henry Goodman was not at ease in his role and elicited none of the realism or emotional depth required and the actor playing Sir Robert failed to encapsulate the "fish-like brilliance" referred to in the script but hollered ludicrously throughout the climax to act two. However as the writing for that scene, with its killer exit line, is so strong it still packed its theatrical punch.This production falls far short of the other recent Rattigan revivals at other venues as well as the Old Vic's success last year. - Mark | 20 Mar 13 |
| Irritating and dull. The odd line sparkles but every character seems so insular and glib. Very disappointing. - addicted to theatre | 20 Apr 10 |
