EDUCATING RITA (Theatre Royal Bath & Chocolate Factory Productions)
Theatre Royal Bath and Chocolate Factory Productions
bring the modern classic, Educating Rita to Malvern Theatres this week. This
charming, inspirational play was brought to the mainstream in the early
eighties with Michael Cane and Julie Walters starring in the movie version of
this two-hander. Penned by the creative genius behind the record breaking
musical Blood Brothers and the endearing Shirley Valentine, this
semi-biographical play explores the divide between social class and education.
Matthew Kelly revels in the role of disillusioned lecturer,
Frank, who has developed an unhealthy relationship with whiskey to help himself
cope with his failed career and doomed relationships. His path to
self-destruction, however, is momentarily interrupted by the arrival of the
brash and witty Rita, a frustrated hairdresser with a passion for learning and
desire to better herself, played by the lovely Claire Sweeney.
Tamara Harvey’s direction challenges conventional
stagecraft creating, a real sense of voyeurism, leaving the audience feeling as
if they are witnessing moments of a private relationship rather than watching a
play. Stepping into roles made famous by two British screen icons will be
difficult for any actor and although Kelly and Sweeney are secure and handle
the text with ease and dexterity, there is an overall lack of variety in their
performances. The emotions tend to be of a similar level, throughout the story,
when many more emotional highs and lows were needed. It is apparent that these
actors are lovely people but this is to their detriment, as there is a general lack
of tension between them, sexual or otherwise. Casting Sweeney in a role for
which she was a good decade too old doesn’t help.
Having said this, Willy Russell’s script is an
absolute delight, full of humour and pathos and definitely worth experiencing.
The story is truly inspirational with some brilliant one-liners.
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