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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Top of the class
Educating Rita Highbury Theatre Centre ***** WILLY Russell's Educating Rita is a
biting examination of the world of further education and academia and it
has continued to entertain audiences since its creation in 1980.
So just in time for the new Autumn term, Highbury
players open the main stage to one of the best productions of it you are
ever likely to see. Rita, a manic 29 year old hairdresser, joins a
part time Open University literature course, dreaming of poetry and book
lined panelled rooms under the tutorship of Frank. After years of
teaching Frank is now weary of the pompous and pretentious world that
reduces great writing to nothing more than repetitive argument and
multiple choices on an examination paper. It's a wonderful collision of two differing
cultures who pull apart the realities of creative writing while each
struggling with their personal demons. The real joy of the play is the skilfully written
opposing views on literary argument and Rob Phillips as Frank and Emily
Armstrong as Rita deliver such convincing performances that you would
have thought the words their own. Mr Phillips is a familiar face to the Highbury
stage and has taken on a wide range of characters over the years but in
this the role it is the best I have seen him perform. He is assured and
confident as Frank but vulnerable and measured once his attachment to
Rita has formed and especially after she fails to turn up to her weekly
lessons. Equally matched in power and subtly is Emily
Armstrong as the scatterbrain hairdresser Rita. Local girl Emily, who
has been performing since she was three, owned the role from the second
she entered the stage. Educating Rita is a two handed play yet both of
the characters often refer to their never seen partners. When Rita tells
the story of her husband burning her study books you feel genuinely
upset for her, so convincing is she in the role. The timing between both of them and genuine
concern for each of their respective lives, together with the detailed
emotional transformations that happen to each of them during the
Educating of Rita was a joy to watch. Director Denise Phillips is no stranger to the
play having played Rita herself at Highbury 24 years ago. Her experience
and knowledge of the work shone through with a skilful navigation of
this Willy Russell classic. Educating Rita is a play that will endure as its
themes are universal. Having seen the play a few times over the years
and expecting to do so again in the future, it must be said that this is
the performance that will be the bench mark and the one to beat, either
amateur or professional. A final testament to the work done here was
another audience member who remarked in the interval that this
performance should get some sort of award and as they say the customer
is always right. It's a delightful and accomplished production and as a lesson in acting craft, it's top of the class. To 28-09-13. Jeff Grant |
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