Letter to actress playing 'Rita' (in Willy Russell's 'Educating Rita'.

appear to become progressively more untidy and disorderly. It means that there will be only need to be very brief intervals between the scenes, as there is not need for changes of scenery.Having only two characters means that the audience concentrate on these and not on the scenery, which I think is an advantage as the play is about changing personalities. The audience will also pay more attention to the relationship between the characters if changing scenery does not distract them.For a successful performance, it is essential that both of the actors depict Frank and Rita excellently. Therefore, I am giving you some guidance as to how you should portray Rita. An important aspect is that the story isn't set in the modern world, but in the late 1970's. The attitudes of the general public towards many issues in the play are different to those of people today. The play is very much based around the differences between the classes, and social aspects of the society. To show you how I see Rita, I will concentrate on a few specific scenes. These will give you an idea of the beginning, end and middle of the play, so you can see the transformation in the character, and possibly build your interpretation around what I have said.Rita begins as an uneducated hairdresser. She acts spontaneously, not thinking about what she says, and not making any changes in what she says to allow for difference audiences. Most people would control what they are saying if they are having their first lesson on a university course; they would be unlikely to begin their education with the line 'I'm comin' in aren't I? It's that stupid bleedin' handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!' During the first scene, Rita is amazed by everything; the pictures on the wall, the bookcases, the desks, the books, and the huge bay window. She has never experienced this sort of environment. She describes her previous experience of education during Act 1 Scene 2: 'borin', ripped-up books, broken glass everywhere, knives an' fights - studyin' was for the whimps.' She did not expect that education involved learning things that she wanted to know. However, instead of allowing Frank to teach her, she chatters on about herself, and bombards Frank with a barrage of questions.' She surprises Frank - he was expecting to need to go to the pub to 'wash away the memory of some silly woman,' but instead is faced by Rita, who is very different from the normal students that he teaches. Her cheerful outlook on her life fascinates him; he is 'trapped' in his study, and hates it. Rita hates her job, but is smiling, talkative, and outwardly happy. He only gets the chance to express himself in short sentences between Rita's long blocks of speech.In Act 1 Scene 4, Rita is frustrated with herself, 'I can't understand what he's on about'. However, she is reassured of her own intelligence, when she tells Frank about her experience in the hairdressers when 'this woman thought Peer Gynt was a new perm lotion'. A few weeks previously, Rita probably would have thought exactly the same thing, but she is above that. She has taken a few steps along the road to education. Her confidence is again increased, when she rewrites her essay, she 'beams Frank a satisfied smile, as she reads out the reworked version of her Peer Gynt essay, which originally read 'Do it on the radio.'Act 2 Scene 1 is an important turning point in the play. Rita has attended summer school, and has been enthused with a love of literature. She 'bursts' into the room, in 'new, second hand clothes.' She has reinvented herself as a 'modern,' educated woman. She has found her way into the educated classes - never again will she find herself standing outside the window, watching the people inside. Se is no longer a 'half caste,' and has reached part of her goal in life. She understands poetry and literature; she can speak to people without feeling inadequate. When she recites Blake's the sick rose Frank is surprised. It finally hits Frank that Rita has changed. She is no longer the carefree person from the first few scenes and she is no longer dependant on him. He cannot control what she knows and what she doesn't; she is independent of him and can take her learning into her own hands. She can read whatever literature she wants and she will understand it, he does not have to explain everything.The last scene in the play, demonstrates the end of the character transitions. Rita has taken the examination and passed well, and Frank has been sent to Australia. Rita comes to tell Frank he's a 'good teacher,' and thank him for entering her into the exam. Rita is grateful for him. He opened up the door to education, and allowed her to build up the life that she had been dreaming of. Without him, and his belief in Rita's strength of character, Rita would still be working in the hairdressers, but instead she has choice. She can choose her future path - whether she goes to France, goes to Australia or stays at her mothers. She has finally achieved choice - she can choose what to do without Denny, or Frank deciding for her. I would like the audience to be left in suspense as to what you are going to do. 'I dunno, I'll make a decision, I'll chose, I dunno'This last scene needs to be played very poignantly; the audience should feel the emotions and characters from the beginning of the play flowing through to the end. The dress, the haircut, and the mispronunciation of the name of E.M Forster, have all appeared earlier in the play, and make a return in the final scene. These show three things. The dress shows that Rita has changed - during act 1 scene 2 she delivered the line, 'An' I'm not gonna get one … 'til I pass my first exam.' She has passed her exam, and finally gets a new dress. The haircut reflects that Rita still has some of her old-self left. Although she is educated, she has not lost her ability to cut people's hair. She also still has her distinctive accent remaining, and is not a completely new person; but has disposed of the parts of herself that she didn't like. The mispronunciation of Forster as 'Foster' shows that Frank and Rita can look back on the 'old Rita,' with fondness, but they are both happy with their current situation. Frank describes Australia as 'a paradise for the likes of me,' and as I have said, Rita has the choice to do what she wants, and an education, which is what she wants. Costumes throughout the play will be similar to those worn by the actors in the film production. I have chosen these, as they are reflective of the time when the play is set, and also have been chosen to say a lot about the characters. The clothes are reflective of the character's mood.To conclude, you can interpret the character in whatever way you want, as long as you stay exactly with the script by way of stage directions and lines. This is important for the way that I am going to instruct the actor playing Frank. Stage directions are an integral part of this play and must be followed for the storyline to be presented adequately.You will be an integral and valued part of the team and I look forward to meeting you again (see rehearsal time sheet enc.). We can discuss other issues at out next meeting, but if you would like to talk about any aspect of the production sooner, please do not hesitate in contacting me.