How does Willy Russell present the relationship between Frank and Rita?
How does Willy Russell present the relationship between Frank and Rita? At the start of the play, Frank and Rita can be seen as opposites; Frank is a middle aged male academic, while Rita is a young, female hairdresser. Any relationship between the two seems unlikely, but they warm to each quickly and the audience realises that Frank and Rita are not quite as different to one another as first appearances show. They are both involved in unsatisfactory relationships and want more from life than it seems to offer. The main difference between the two is that, whereas Rita has recognised her unhappiness and is determined to change it through becoming educated, frank is a pessimist and tends to down his sorrow through drinking. Frank and Rita become good friends in the play because Rita needs Frank to teach her, and he needs the freshness and vitality that she brings to his life. Willey Russell presents Frank and Rita's relationship, and how it changes, in a variety of ways. At the start of the play when Frank and Rita meet, Rita is very outgoing and forward. The first thing Rita says to Frank is 'it's that stupid bleedin' handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!' you wouldn't expect a new student to speak to her tutor like this the first time she ever met him. This also shows that Rita doesn't care what his first impressions of her are. She then gets into a deep conversation
Janice Galloway's short story 'Someone Had To' - review
'Someone Had To' Janice Galloway's short story 'Someone Had To' is a truly disturbing insight into the mind of a man engaged in violently abusing his stepdaughter. Through her effective use of narrative stance, structure, imagery and characterisation, we are allowed to see this pessimistic theme in an all too convincing way. The story is told from the point of view of Frank, Kimberly's stepfather. His portrayal . Through the use of first person narrative, we are effectively allowed to see Frank's opinions on Kimberly without much intervention from any other characters. We do see the occasional input from Kimberly's mother, Linda, but her intervention in slight. To begin with, Frank appears to be a decent man whose patience is being tried. We see that he has attempted to include Kimberly in family events: 'I gave her a chance. Took her out with the rest of us, the whole family.' He initially portrays himself as the attentive step father who is faced with an unco-operative step child. Kimberly is represented as an unruly teenager with stereotypical teenage attitudes and reactions. 'Difficult. Withdrawn.' Frank appears to be pushed beyond his patience and to begin with, the reader has some sort of sympathy for Frank. 'That STARING all the time like I'd done something wrong.' It can be the case that teenagers can be unruly or insolent in nature and can push
Explore how Willy Russel makes act 1 scene 1 of 'Educating Rita' to watch on stage.
Explore how Willy Russel makes act 1 scene 1 of 'Educating Rita' to watch on stage. In this essay I will explore how Willy Russel makes act 1 scene 1 of 'Educating Rita' good to watch on stage. To help me to do this I will look at: Cultural context and setting, for example, why was the play set in the North of England, and how does it help the play? I will also look at dramatic devices, such as the way Rita enters Franks study for the first time, and also the language used in the play, Rita is very outspoken and uses swear words were as Frank speaks proper English and does not use slang. I will also look at some themes in the play. 'Educating Rita' was written in 1985 and that was the time that the play was set in also. From reading act 1 scene 1, I can see some similarities of how life was in real life and how life was in the play. In the play, Rita's husband thinks that as a woman, Rita should have had some children by now. He thinks that women should cook, clean and have babies. I know this because Rita says 'I should have had a baby by now, every one expects it'. This was how many men thought of women in the time that the play was written, and that was what many women did do. In 1975 there was an 'equal opportunities act' bought out which enabled women to have the same opportunity as men for everything. The fact that Rita is going against what the majority of women
The opening scene of Educating Rita is one that really catches the audience's attention in many different ways
The opening scene of 'Educating Rita' is one that really catches the audience's attention in many different ways and to which some can relate to, be it through actions taken or through a character's attitude. The opening is only set in Frank's office. By doing this, Russell is able to concentrate more on the humour and the drama of the play. It also enables the reader to focus on Frank and Rita's developing relationship, and also the characters' changes throughout the scene. The scene introduces the problems of both Frank and Rita, without going into depth over either of the character's troubles too soon. It is the instant clash that catches the audience's attention which makes it such a lively and effective opening. Russell uses stage direction as well as his character's personalities to keep information on these two characters flowing. He uses symbolism as a way of describing his characters without it being too obvious to his audience that he's letting on more and more about them. Act 1 scene 1 is the introductory stage to Russell's characters. In the first five minutes of this opening, we get to know Frank quite well. We learn that Frank is a university lecturer who appears to have grown tired of his job and the same old people. Russell uses many dramatic devices. To begin with, Russell does not tell straight away the reason why Frank, the university lecturer, is
Discuss how Rita changes and develops throughout the play
Discuss how Rita changes and develops throughout the play Also how does the audience respond to these changes? The play "Educating Rita" was written by Willy Russell and is unusual in the way that it is set entirely in a University Study. The two main and only characters Frank and Rita are very different in their personalities and backgrounds, which gives a good contrast, making the play interesting. Because there are only two characters and one setting throughout the play, it causes the audience to focus closely on the relationship between Frank and Rita and how that changes over time. The play is set in the seventies, when there was a class divide and when the lower class didn't always have the opportunities to complete further education. Rita a young woman who feels trapped in her working class life decides to attend Open University classes in the hope of regaining her education, and to 'discover' herself. The play was written at the time when woman were only just beginning to pursue careers, and when it was also beginning to be accepted. This is what Rita wants to do, she wants to break away from her social class and find a better life for herself. When you are first introduced to the character of Rita, you are immediately drawn to her and her sense of humour. She appears as a very bubbly and open character showed simply by the way she breezes through the door. She
Read the opening of the play. In what ways is this a good introduction to the play's main characters and themes? Do you think that Willy Russell has made his opening dramatic and entertaining?
Title: Read the opening of the play. In what ways is this a good introduction to the play's main characters and themes? Do you think that Willy Russell has made his opening dramatic and entertaining? Educating Rita is a play set in Liverpool in the 1970's, Willy Russell tells the story of a twenty six year old working as a hairdresser called Rita White. Rita is trying to "discover" herself and she wants to achieve this by getting herself an education. She arrives at an open university, where she meets her tutor Frank. Frank has a very dismissive attitude towards his students, but over whelmed and flattered by Rita's differences and individuality, in both social class and behaviour, he doesn't treat her like the other students, but has a keen interest in her. Over time of attending Frank's tutorials and lectures, Rita gradually progresses building up the education she longed for. After passing her exams with a much deserved distinction, she finally feels that she has discovered herself and has come to fully understand herself. In this essay I will analyse to see whether the opening of the play is a good introduction to the main characters and themes, also if Willy Russell has made a dramatic and entertaining opening. All information about the characters and themes of the play come from the visual clue and dialogue. Willy Russell skilfully uses a dramatic and very
Life is a struggle, sometimes you have to lose something in order to get something, but it's always your choice to consider what you want or need the most.
Life is a struggle, sometimes you have to lose something in order to get something, but it's always your choice to consider what you want or need the most. If education improves people's life style and social environment, it also affects our lives in an undesirable way. I know education is essential in almost every aspect of our lives, but do we really want it to entirely take our place? That is, should we give priority to education only and put everything else behind? People see education from different aspects, but one thing about education that everyone agrees on is that it has done so much, socially and politically, for us. Considering all the improvements and differences that education has made, we are unable to see what it has done to us. Today we see education simply as academic success but that's not all there is about education. Being yourself, valuing your culture and identity, and remaining in family are the key issues that we should consider when thinking of getting education. The more we are trying hard to achieve academic success, the more we are starting to grow apart from our love ones and it is changing everyone in certain way. According to Jimmy Santiago Baca in, "Working in The Dark," "Only by action, by moving out into the world and confronting and challenging the obstacles, could one learn anything worth knowing." Usually we have to go out in the world in
RITA HAS CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SAW HER. EXPLAIN HOWYOU WOULD DIRECT AN ACTRESS PLAYING RITA IN THIS SCENE TO HIGHLIGHT THESECHANGES. (act 2 scene1 )
RITA HAS CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SAW HER. EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD DIRECT AN ACTRESS PLAYING RITA IN THIS SCENE TO HIGHLIGHT THESE CHANGES. (act 2 scene1 ) Willy Russell was born in Whiston, near Liverpool, England, in 1947. Russell has written a string of popular, award-winning plays and musicals, but perhaps one of the most well known is Educating Rita. In this play Willy Russell is very much producing a mirror image of parts of his life. As a child and growing up he didn't care much for school, he considered himself a kid from the 'D' stream and a piece of factory fodder. Eventually he realised he did not want to end up working in a factory, yet it was to late as there were only six months of school left he did not make an effort, he felt his fate lay in factory work so he spent his days in underground clubs and sagging of school. He left school generally uneducated and became a ladies hairdresser as Rita does in the play, he did not enjoy his job and he felt he was not good at it, eventually he got his own salon and on bad days he would retire to the back room and wrote, as he felt it was the only thing he could do. Eventually he begun to write poetry, books and sketches but found himself interrupted by the world he was in, he wanted more. He soon realised that if he wanted to write he had to change, and find a world which would encourage such aspiration but this would mean
Explain how Willy Russell has made the opening scene dramatic and entertaining. In what way is the scene a good introduction to the play's main characters and themes?
Explain how Willy Russell has made the opening scene dramatic and entertaining. In what way is the scene a good introduction to the play's main characters and themes? The opening scene to a play is very important because it introduces the audience to the main characters and it has to be interesting and entertaining so that it can draw the audience in to the play. The opening scene to Educating Rita is the same. Willy Russell makes the opening scene dramatic and entertaining and introduces the main theme and characters. He does this by using stage directions, language and character misunderstandings. The uses of stage directions make the scene entertaining and dramatic. An example of this is: Frank: Promise Rita: (Doing a Brownie salute) on my oath as an ex Brownie. Another example is: (The telephone rings and startles him slightly. He manages to gulp at the whisky before he picks up the receiver and although his speech is not slurred, we should recognize the voice of a man who shifts a lot of booze) These are a few of the many stage directions that make the play entertaining. Frank uses a lot of irony through out the scene. An example of this is "Flora? Flowers?" Another example is: Rita: I wouldn't go an live in Formby. I hate that hole, don't you? Frank: Yes Rita: Where do you live? Frank: Formby These are a few examples of Frank's irony through out the play.
Write a letter to an actress playing the role of Rita in a Production of Educating Rita at the West End. In this letter comment on how the character changes between Acts 1 and 2.
Write a letter to an actress playing the role of Rita in a Production of Educating Rita at the West End. In this letter comment on how the character changes between Acts 1 and 2. Dear Miss Walters It has recently come to my attention that you have been cast to perform the Part of 'Rita' in a West End version of the play 'Educating Rita'. As a director my job is to study and monitor the actions and behaviour of certain characters in various plays in order to direct the actors under my supervision. Therefore the reason that I have chosen to get in contact with you is because I feel that it is my duty as a director to inform aspiring actors such as yourself on the complex structure of this wonderful play. The basis of this letter is to give you an idea of how the character of Rita changes very dramatically between acts one and two, and how this will relate to the way in which her character must be performed. The opening scene when we first meet Rita, gives us a lot of what we need to know about her character at the time. In this scene she is very chatty and very coarse in the things she says. She has no problem in saying what is on her mind. An example of the way in which she says what is on her mind is when, in the opening scene she comments on an erotic picture that is hanging up in Frank's office, she says: "Look at the tits on that" This is not usually how you would