Russell, Willy: *1947

Educating Rita, 1980 - Summary

Educating Rita is the story of Rita, a Liverpudlian hairdresser from the 'wrong side of the tracks,' who decides to go to university part time to discover her true self. She arrives at her Open university course to discover that her tutor is an alcoholic, failed poet named Frank who is only teaching to subsidize his drinking problem. Undeterred, she insists that he teach her all that there is to know about English literature, against his protestations that by teaching her the accepted truths she will lose all that is wonderful and unique about herself. The clash of 'cultures' results in a very funny play which celebrates the joy of individual expression. WILLY RUSSELL considers himself a 'working class bloke' who fell into theatre in order to give the working class a voice.
from the Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque, Canada