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Canberra Today 13°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

“Rita” comes to The Q

MOST THEATREGOERS are familiar with Willy Russell’s famous play, “Shirley Valentine.”

Frank and Rita, photo Fiona Cullen
Frank and Rita, photo Fiona Cullen

As well, in Queanbeyan, we have been treated to a terrific local production by Stephen Pike of his unusual musical, “Blood Brothers.”

Now in a production for Christine Harrison and HIT Productions, directed by Denny Lawrence returns from New York to direct Russell’s 1980 stage play, “Educating Rita,” starring well-known actors Colin Moody and Francesca Bianchi. The Q is calling it “a wonderfully entertaining modern day ‘Pygmalion’.”

Like Russell’s other plays, “Educating Rita” is set in Liverpool, England, and traces the developing relationship between burnt?out English professor, Frank and working class hairdresser Susan (who calls herself Rita), who is a determined to get an education.

Frank soon discovers that Rita has a lot more common sense than the so-called educated class within which he moves. He begins to fall in love with Rita for her zest for life, her almost childlike qualities and her simple, natural intelligence. But Rita’s life soon changes in this new environment.

Francesca Bianchi as Rita, photo Fiona Cullen
Francesca Bianchi as Rita, photo Fiona Cullen

“I wanted to make a play which engaged and was relevant to those who considered themselves uneducated, those whose daily language is not the language of the university or the theatre. I wanted to write a play which would attract, and be as valid, for the Rita’s in the audience as well as the Franks” Russell said.

We caught up with Lawrence recently, who said that while he has been living in New York for the last 12 years, he returns regularly to direct plays here, especially for HIT productions. Earlier in the year, for instance we saw his production of Anne Brooksbanks’ play “All My Love”, about Mary Gilmore and Henry Lawson.

Good news is that he will return to Australia in 2017 to direct yet another play that will tour to Queanbeyan – but that remains under wraps until the Q’s annual announcements.

”Educating Rita,” at The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Oct 26-29, Bookings to theq.net.au or  6285 6290.

 

               

 

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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