A legal drama drives the story but Rattigan also throws in a subplot about a love that dare not express itself between feisty suffragette Catherine Winslow and arrogant barrister Sir Robert Morton. Sounds familiar? Between that and the pre-WWI setting, “The Winslow Boy” should appeal to those going through “Downton Abbey” withdrawal.
Scroll down to meet the protagonists of “The Winslow Boy.”
Sir Robert Morton
Who he is: a barrister as powerful as he’s arrogant — you can tell by his slicked-back hair. He starts by butting heads with Catherine but they end up grudgingly admiring each other. Not that they’d ever admit to it, of course. Stiff upper lips and pent-up longing will have to do for those two.
Played by: Alessandro Nivola
You know him from: This handsome Yale grad is still waiting for the leading movie role to match his talent. In the meantime you can watch him in “Face/Off,” “Laurel Canyon” and the forthcoming “American Hustle.” Back off, ladies and gents: He’s married to Emily Mortimer.
Desmond Curry
Who he is: the Winslows’ faithful solicitor. He’s hopelessly in love with Catherine and proposes to her despite knowing that she doesn’t return his feelings. In a rom-com he would be the nice-but-dull guy the heroine dumps in favor of the brilliant bad boy.
Played by: Michael Cumpsty
You know him from: Just about every play under the sun — this versatile stage vet is so beloved of New York audiences that he gets entrance applause in “The Winslow Boy.” Most recently he scored a Tony nom for playing Judy Garland’s long-suffering accompanist in “End of the Rainbow.”
John Watherstone
Who he is: This smug bastard is engaged to Catherine but eventually dumps her — his father threatens to cut his allowance when the court case makes the Winslows notorious.
Played by: Chandler Williams
You know him from: No, this isn’t the Arena League football player (who’s dead anyway) but a handsome actor with an affinity for period vibes — he was in Broadway’s “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” and “Mary Stuart.”
Catherine Winslow
Who she is: Arthur and Grace’s opinionated, liberal daughter — though her parents take her for granted. An engagement falls through, then she’s courted by the family solicitor but feels herself attracted to her political nemesis, Sir Robert Morton.
Played by: Charlotte Parry
You know her from: Another excellent period turn as eccentric Cecily Cardew in “The Importance of Being Earnest.” No wonder she pulls off the accent flawlessly: Like Roger Rees, she’s originally from the U.K.
Arthur Winslow
Who he is: an upright retired banker in London who dedicates himself to restoring the honor of his teenage son, accused of stealing. Starts the show limping, ends in a wheelchair — a protracted court battle will do that to a man.
Played by: Roger Rees
You know him from: An actual Brit with tons of Broadway shows under his belt, including “Nicholas Nickleby,” “The Addams Family” (he replaced Nathan Lane) and “Indiscretions.” He also played Kirstie Alley’s millionaire love interest on “Cheers.”
Grace Winslow
Who she is: Arthur’s ever-patient wife, like a less rich and less American answer to Elizabeth McGovern’s Cora Crawley.
Played by: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
You know her from: “Man of La Mancha” on Broadway and an Oscar-nominated turn as Paul Newman’s girlfriend in “The Color of Money.” Or maybe everybody’s secret science crush, Dr. Lindsey Brigman in James Cameron’s underwater epic “The Abyss.”
Ronnie Winslow
Who he is: Falsely accused to steal and cash a classmate’s money order, this 14-year-old dingbat becomes a cause celebre and unwittingly almost ruins his family.
Played by: Spencer Davis Milford
You know him from: Like every other lanky boy actor in town, he’s been in “Billy Elliot.” There are worse training grounds.
Dickie Winslow
Who he is: The Winslows’ older son, this party-loving underachiever must drop out of school after the scandal puts his family in the news, then get a job. The horror!
Played by: Zachary Booth
You know him from: Michael, the angelic-looking son of Glenn Close’s scheming lawyer Patty Hewes on “Damages.”
Miss Barnes
Who she is: a “lady reporter” from the Daily News who interviews the Winslows. More than anything, she’s interested in the human angle. Aren’t we all?
Played by: Meredith Forlenza
You know her from: She played a quarterback in the off-Broadway play “All-American” — and read “Football for Dummies” as part of her research.
Fred
Who he is: the script describes this blink-and-you-miss-it part as “a listless photographer.” He comes in to snap some pics for an article about the Winslows.
Played by: Stephen Pilkington
You know him from: if at all, it’d be from “One Man, Two Guv’nors.”
Violet
Who she is: the Winslows’ old maid. That’s why she doesn’t have a last name and is prone to lines like “Mr. Dickie’s been using your chest of drawers for all his dress clothes and things.”
Played by: Henny Russell
You know her from: many appearances on stage and screen for this utility player. She was Laurie Metcalf’s understudy in “The Other Place.”