Educating Rita

Educating Rita is a play which seems to come around every few years. It is a well-loved play known for the challenge which it presents to actors, a two-hander which requires enormous stamina and focus. In addition to talent, actors Anastasia Ward and Scott Burns display these qualities in abundance in the current Repertory Theatre production. Their performances are credible and engaging and one cannot help but be in awe of the virtuosity the roles demand.

Frank, (played by Scott Burns) is warm rather than acerbic, his well-modulated tones suggesting a rational moderation which is belied by his drinking and disappointments. He is not the jaded Frank of the iconic movie. Self-doubt and self-indulgence are reserved for Act II.  Burns is a talented and versatile performer. He wears his brown corduroy well but the bad wig is difficult to unsee.

Anastasia Ward is a newcomer to the Hobart theatre scene and, undoubtedly, an asset. Her Rita is attractive. She is optimistic, brave and vibrant, less jaded than other portrayals of the role. Her physical and vocal characterisation are consistent and authentic but exuberant delivery sometimes compromises audibility. 

The space is used well by both performers and the cluttered set is visually interesting although staticly lit. There is no indication of the passing of season or time. The actors manage all scene transitions of set and costumes by themselves to the accompaniment of an 80’s sound track used to signpost thematic shifts.

The sound track is a reminder that Educating Rita has been around since 1980. Actors love this play but it still has much to offer audiences. It addresses such ideas as identity and authenticity, change and choice. In a world where many, particularly women, are denied opportunities afforded by education, the subject matter remains relevant. Learning environments have changed significantly but the relationship between student and teacher remains a pivotal one.  How we educate and what constitutes that education is frequently the subject of media attention. In a metaphor which may apply equally to the curriculum or students Frank says, “We pluck birds from the sky and nail them down to learn how they fly”. Some 37 years on, Educating Rita may yet teach us how to “sing a better song.”

Anne Blythe-Cooper