Explore the ways in which Russell engages the audiences interest in the main characters and themes in the opening scene of Educating Rita and explain whether you think the play written in 1979 is still relevant to 2005.
Willy Russell's play, Educating Rita, written in 1979, is a story about a typical lower class woman called Rita who decides she wants to lead an 'educated life' and she tries to do this by getting a private tutor called Frank to teach her, but learning to lead an educated life proves to be not what she expected.
Willy Russell introduces Frank and Rita in two very different ways. Frank is introduced as a well read university tutor who seems to like his drink; this is shown when Russell writes 'the walls are lined with books' making him appear educated. But then writes: "pulls out a pile of books to reveal a bottle of whisky" which makes the audience question their first impression of him as a typical university teacher, is he an alchoholic? Does he drink too much? Is this important?
Rita is introduced as an uneducated, loud, rude young woman. The first impression Russell gives the audience is Rita saying: "I'm comin' in, aren't I?" to someone she has never met before, which shows a lack of manners or simply a casual upbringing. He then shows her going to a chair and "dumping her bag". By using the verb "dump" Russell immediately suggests that Rita is not a ladylike person, and this follows the impression that she is ill mannered.
Willy Russell's play, Educating Rita, written in 1979, is a story about a typical lower class woman called Rita who decides she wants to lead an 'educated life' and she tries to do this by getting a private tutor called Frank to teach her, but learning to lead an educated life proves to be not what she expected.
Willy Russell introduces Frank and Rita in two very different ways. Frank is introduced as a well read university tutor who seems to like his drink; this is shown when Russell writes 'the walls are lined with books' making him appear educated. But then writes: "pulls out a pile of books to reveal a bottle of whisky" which makes the audience question their first impression of him as a typical university teacher, is he an alchoholic? Does he drink too much? Is this important?
Rita is introduced as an uneducated, loud, rude young woman. The first impression Russell gives the audience is Rita saying: "I'm comin' in, aren't I?" to someone she has never met before, which shows a lack of manners or simply a casual upbringing. He then shows her going to a chair and "dumping her bag". By using the verb "dump" Russell immediately suggests that Rita is not a ladylike person, and this follows the impression that she is ill mannered.
