While Rita is uneasy around Frank in terms of their relationship an interaction between each other on stage they should keep eye contact when talking and there should be some awkward silences between them to show uncertainties between them.
I think that the actress should I this because in this scene I get the impression that there is awkwardness and discomfort. The first words she says to him are “I’m comin’ in, aren’t I? It’s that stupid bleedin handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!” To me this shows that she is hiding her real fears by trying to act as if she is not afraid of anything. She then rambles on and on, and this shows again her nerves. Next Frank says, “You are?”
Rita “What am I?”
Frank “Pardon?”
Rita “What?”
Frank “Now you are?”
Rita “I’m a what?”
Rita “That’s a nice picture, isn’t is?”
Here you can feel the tension between them as they are almost refusing to talk because they do both not want to start the conversation. Those questions were the key moment in this scene as it set the atmosphere for that scene and everything unfolded after it.
Another key moment in this scene is at the end then they take down their barriers forget there fears and open up to each other for a brief moment.
Frank “…Well it really depends on you, on how committed you are. Are you sure that you’re absolutely serious about wanting to learn?”
Rita “I’m dead serious. Look, I know I take the piss an’ that but I’m dead serious really. I take the piss because I’m not, y’ know, confident like, but I wanna be, honest”.
Rita “ Tch. What y’ lookin’ at me for?”
Frank “Because-I think you’re marvellous. Do you know, I think you’re the first breath of air that’s been in this room for years.”
Rita “Tch. Now who’s taking the piss?”
At this point the actress playing Rita should be taken back at this compliment she should also be a bit curious why he say it. After this section she should the have a little bit more confidence in herself. But just enough so that they audience can tell. This section is important because it highlights what I believe to be a sign showing that Frank use to look down on the working class but after seeing one he changed his mind.
The second scene I chosen to direct is Act two Scene one. I chose this scene because it differs quiet a lot from Act one Scene one. This is because Rita is more confident with herself. The difference is that in Act one Scene one Rita needed Frank, but now in Act two Scene one she doesn’t. She has grow independent and moved on with here life. Frank however is just the same as he was with one exception. Rita doesn’t need him any more and you realise in this scene that is want Frank really ever wanted. He needed Rita to need him.
In this scene the audience now sees that Rita is independent and in control of her own life. They see that she doesn’t depend on anyone therefore she has almost everything that she wants except passing her examination. Although none of this is mentioned to Frank.
The actress playing Rita now should b now outgoing and very confident of herself no matter what life brings. Her tone of voice should be more upbeat. She should speak more properly not saying “y’ know” or “sayin’”. I would suggest she now wears a different style of clothing. She should still wear a skirt but now a just a bit longer than he knees and not tight but comfortable enough to walk in. She should wear a top that is more suiting for an educated woman, but not changes it to a look that would be out of place for her family only more covering. I say this because in the play Frank says “And what is this vision, returning from the city?” This suggests that he approves of her dress sense therefore it should be about the standard of he would not have said it as Frank through doesn’t like being honest about some things is most of the time honest.
The actress should move about the stage more graceful sure of how and what she is. Frank and Rita should be able to talk to each other with out feeling nervous anymore. This will show the audience that they have bonded with each other and are comfortable around each other. When Frank and Rita are talking to each other they should try and get the point across that they need each other a lot.
I think that a key moment in this scene is the opening part.
Rita “…Frank!”
Frank “And what is this vision, returning from the city?”
Rita “Frank it was fantastic.”
Rita “Honest, it was-ogh!”
Frank “What are you talking about, London or summer school?”
Rita “Both. A crowd of us stuck together…Ogh, it was…”
Frank “So you won’t have had time to do any actual work there?”
Rita “Work? We never stopped”… “Y’ know at fist I was dead scared. I didn’t know anyone. I was gonna come home. But the first afternoon I was …”
Here I the actress should be almost rushing it but not too much or the audience wont
here it. She should be really excited and enthusiastic so as to make the audience feel happy that she has enjoyed herself. I want her to be almost running around the stage, so she will get the audience so hocked that they will want to get up there and shot about it.
At this point I want the audience to realise what has happened. Frank needed Rita to need him, but now she doesn’t anymore, his world must be crashing in on him. I want the audience to be happy for Rita but in the mean time feel sorry for Frank. I want them to feel sorry for Frank because he has no one to teach want he knows. But I want them to be happy for Rita because she has finally broke this bond from Frank that was that he was “the alpha male”, how knew more than she could ever know and he loved it. As I believe that he loved be in control having the power. But them like as flash of lightning Rita has the power too so she doesn’t need Frank anyone.
Another Key point in this scene is at the end of the scene when Frank says “…Well here’s some thing to cheer you up-here’s our ‘dead good’ poet-Blake”
Rita “Blake? William Blake?
Frank “The man himself. You will understand Blake; they over complicate him, Rita, but you will understand-you’ll love the man”
Rita “I know”
Frank “What? Look-look-read this…”
Rita then recites the poem from memory
Frank “You know it?”
At this point I want the actress to talking to Frank speak it to him like it was common knowledge, as if everyone knew. She should take no notice to the reactions that Frank makes but love the moment for the fact that she already knew something that Frank was going to teacher here. This is important because for Frank after being ‘punched in the face’ that she had changed from an uneducated woman to educated while he was gone. Again he was ‘punched on the other side’ because he a least thought that even if she did know things here could a least teacher here something. But he was wrong. For Frank it must be ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ as he is again and again realising he is not needed anymore.
