Educating Rita

This classic play is loosely based on Willy Russell’s own experience of failing at school, which still has relevance today. Rita, tired of her humdrum life goes in search of education.  Frank her middle aged OU tutor is a drunken professor and failed poet who is equally disillusioned with his lot.  Rita invigorates him with her energy and changes the way he views the world.  However, Rita also changes and becomes trapped by a different set of behavioural rules. 

The set and appeared to work well for the cast and the ‘view’ from the window worked really well in adding to the overall setting of the piece.  Lighting was very good – I loved the dim to black at the scene endings – so well done – and really added to the overall atmosphere.  Costumes all looked appropriate – I liked the change in Rita enhanced by costume.  Stage crew were excellent, they were efficient, quiet and unobtrusive – thank you.

Direction was very good - all the various elements had been drawn together to produce a cohesive whole.  All of the debates at the heart of the piece were brought out well, while still hitting all of the humorous notes at the exactly right pitch. 

It perhaps bears saying that this play has a total cast of 2 and the acting was quite simple excellent.  The play demands and delivered excellent chemistry and a totally believable relationship, as without this the play fails totally. Both Frank and Rita were believable, focussed, compelling to watch and vocally good.  Many congratulations also on maintaining your characters throughout. I cannot move without mentioning ‘the lines’ – just brilliant how you both did it I don’t know but do it you did – the lines appeared to be absolutely secure and were delivered with absolute confidence.

In conclusion, this was a well-acted, very moving and thought provoking piece, it is a marvellous play, painfully funny and passionately serious with quizzical ending and you brought every nuance of it to life so well.  It ran for around two and a half hours but with all credit to you, it didn't seem anywhere near that long, I was amazed when I saw the time – as I had become so caught up in the lives of Frank and Rita – which is exactly how it should be so thank you so much and many congratulations!

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