Educating Rita

I always look forward to reviewing shows for Centre Stage. A warm welcome and the offer of a programme and seats with a good view of the stage usually await us. The last two of course are essential to being able to write a NODA show report and score the production.

On this occasion though things fell somewhat short.  The cabaret style seating had all been taken and with none reserved for the NODA Rep, we were shown to one of two rows of theatre seats at the back from where we had a very limited view of the performing area which was at audience level.

Things improved after the main event but more about that later.  I was here primarily to review Educating Rita.

The single set was that of a tutor’s office/study. A desk piled with books, papers and other paraphernalia could be seen stage right and a bookcase where Frank hid his supply of booze was upstage centre.  I was unable to see the set stage left.  I also had a limited view of the actors so concentrated on the dialogue.  This was difficult to hear at times, a fact expressed by some other members of the audience as they walked past me in the interval.

Steve Murray (Frank) and Billie Fletcher (Rita) are both very experienced actors and their handling of the script is to be commended.  I was aware of the prompt coming in on a couple of occasions but then this was the first night.

Billie’s Liverpool accent was amazing but she had a tendency at times to rush her lines, resulting in them being lost on some of the audience.  Steve Murray appeared to be well cast as Frank but he did let his words drift away at times.  It was moments like this that the dialogue could not be heard by some of us which was a shame.  Apart from these observations, both actors are to be congratulated on their performances.

Following the main event we were offered seats at a table in the front which had just been vacated.  Now I was able to view the set. It was certainly well dressed with every conceivable item one would expect to find in a tutor’s office and possibly more besides.

The Director had decided to follow the main play with a smaller production; something different each evening.  On this opening night we were treated to two monologues from Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads.  A Lady of Letters and A Chip in the Sugar were beautifully delivered by Chris Hart and David Hart. They really brought their characters to life and for a short while we were drawn into the worlds of Irene and Graham.  Two very fine performances.

Thank you for inviting me and I look forward to Centre Stage’s next production.

 

 

 

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