SETTING
• All the action takes place in Frank’s study.
• The room is very cluttered.
• It has a stifling and oppressive atmosphere.
• This could be one of the reasons for Frank’s lack of
creativity.
• It is only when Rita arrives, there is “a breath of fresh
air.”
• Rita is in an alien environment from the start.
• She is out of place – her language, dialect and
background.
• She longs to be accepted into Frank’s environment.
CHANGE
CONFLICT
EDUCATION
THEME
CLASS/CULTURE
CLASH INCOMPLETENESS
CONFLICT
RITA AND RITA AND FRANK/RITA
DENNY FRANK AND SOCIETY
EDUCATION LANGUAGE TYSON
UNIVERSITY JULIA
CHANGE
Rita and Denny
• “I’ve tried to explain it to my husband but between you an’
me I think he’s thick.”
• “If I’m readin’, or watchin’ somethin’ different on the telly, he
gets dead narked.”
• “Denny gets dead narked if I work at home. He doesn’t like
me doing this.”
• “Denny tried to stop me comin’ tonight. He hates me comin’
here.”
• “Denny found out I was on the pill again...He burnt all my
books.”
• “Why can’t he just let me get on with my learning?”
• “He’s wondering where the girl he married has gone.”
• “He said either I stop comin’ here an’ come off the pill or I
could get out altogether.”
Rita and Frank
• “If you believe that’s why you were invited, to be laughed
at, then you can get out, now.”
• “Rita, I thought you weren’t interested in reforming me.”
• “Rita, just be yourself!”
• “Is there much point in working towards an exam if you’re
going to fall in love and set off for..”
• “It struck me that there was once a time when you told me
everything.”
• “You can hardly bear to spend a moment here, can you?”
• “I don’t need you.”
• “You’ve found a different song...and on your lips it’s shrill
and hollow and tuneless.”
Frank/Rita and Society
• “I’m twenty-six. I should have had a baby by now;
everyone expects it.”
• “See if I’d started takin’ school seriously I would have
had to become different from me mates, an’ that’s not
allowed.”
• “Most of the time it doesn’t matter – appalling
teaching is quite in order for my appalling students.”
• “I can’t talk to the people I live with anymore.”
• “Yes – students – students reported me! Me! They
complained and it was the best lecture I’ve ever given.”
Language
• ‘Educating Rita’ is principally about a character trying
to find words to express herself.
• As she becomes more educated, Rita learns to adapt
her language to suit her audience.
• Her increasing mastery of language helps build her
confidence.
• Through the character of Rita, Russell is reaching out
to a wide audience – those who would perhaps not
usually be interested in the theatre.
Language
• Much of the humour in the play is derived
from Rita’s style of talking and the contrast
between Frank and Rita’s speech.
• She tries throughout the play to find a suitable
voice to express her enthusiasm for literature.
• Her comments are often refreshing when
compared to a typical academic response.