Educating Rita Raises Serious Issues Essay -- Educating Rita Essays

Educating Rita Raises Serious IssuesEducating Rita was voted best coiffedy of the year when performed bythe Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980 and by 1983 it had risen to bethe quarter most popular campaign on the British stage. Russell uses humouras a tool to engage and entertain his audience whilst at the resembling timedealing with serious topics. Without the humour, the play would beless convenient and would probably have reached a much more(prenominal) limitedand elitist audience.The play is naturalistic with a fixed and simple staging, which firmlyreflects the real populace. The inherent play is set in one study room in ared brick university. The room is roughs environment - cluttered withbooks representing both the world of knowledge and the disorderedstate of Franks mind and life. It is a far squall from the world towhich Rita is used, but one to which she aspires in her quest to findherself. By line of products Frank is disillusioned with his life as anacademic and the audience quickly gathers the impression that Frankwould escape from his world if only he could.This penning is handled hilariously from the opening of the play. Ritasbungled attempt to enter the room, fumbling with the inlet handle andcursing, is a metaphor for the apparent barriers between Ritasworking branch environment and the middle class, educated world thatshe is trying to break into. The pitiable sod on the other side on theoutside wont be able to get in. An you wont be able to get out(Act one, motion-picture show one)The mismatch between Ritas language and academic setting provides a neat source of humour throughout the play. Ritas accent and dialectclearly sets her unconnected and so does the constant swearing and joking.At times however... ...ntually have to come to terms withtheir mediocrity.Although the play is hilarious the seriousness is never lost. Thehumour is in the main at a verbal level and slapstick situation comedy isavoided. The humour helps the author to bring out an essentiallyoptimistic tonus despite all the tragedy. Rita completes hertransition and ends the play as a well-rounded individual feelingherself to be in full control of her destiny. She has larn a keylesson on the way that she does not have to spay her personality andbe like other people to become more mature. As Rita rises, Frank fallsas the drama unfolds. The play ends with his carrer at its lowestpoint after students complain about his drunkenness. However, even forFrank there is the hope of a new start and renewal with his sabbatical leaveto Australia a country which for him symbolises new beginnings.