Get Educated with Rita at the Williamsburg Players

(Theater Reviewer: Kim Vernall)

Educating Rita is the type of show that can be disastrous for a community theater to attempt; the cast consists of only two actors, both of whom must pull off British accents while discussing poetry and great works of literature for two and a half hours.  The script is peppered with British phrases that Americans most likely don’t understand, and the storyline is one most of us have seen before.   In the hands of an unskilled director and lesser quality actors, this show could be one big bomb.  Fortunately for the Williamsburg Players, their production avoids all of these pitfalls and delivers an enjoyable production.

The storyline is well-worn territory.  A young English woman realizes she’s not happy with her situation and decides to bring about change by becoming more educated.  As she does, her appearance and speech change, and the man who helped bring about those changes ponders exactly what has happened.  Sound familiar?  Well, if you know Pygmalion, or its musical counterpart My Fair Lady, you know what happens.  But Educating Rita puts us in 1980 and focuses on a young woman with a disapproving husband.  And instead of an intrigued Henry Higgins we have the reluctant, married, and often intoxicated   Frank Bryant.

Director Les Waldron brings a long list of credits and it shows.  She directed the show with the appropriate touch of humor and emotion, and for the most part, the show moves along at a good pace.   There were a couple of times when I would have preferred a little more movement on the part of the two actors, but these moments were few and far between and didn’t detract from the overall quality of the show.    You can tell she put a lot of thought into casting and a lot of time working with her two actors.

Paul Schutte delivers a solid performance as Frank Bryant, the professor who reluctantly takes on the project of “Educating Rita”.    He provided a nice calming contrast to his exuberant student, although at times his energy seemed a little too low and caused a few brief segments to drag a bit.  But Schutte does a nice job with a challenging role.  In addition to the sheer number of lines he had to learn, he effectively runs the gamut of emotions, from irascible professor to frustrated poet, and above all, concerned friend of Rita.  The players have found another great actor to add to their talent roster in Amy Griffin.  In her role as Rita White, she has the  task of creating a character that is likeable without being obnoxious, despite her enthusiasm  and her fondness for some language Eliza Doolittle would never have imagined using (note to parents:  you’ll want to leave the kids at home for this one).   Griffin’s accent never faltered, nor did her energy throughout the show.  Her bio states she has been seen backstage for some previous Players shows.  Backstage is not the place for her.  Here’s hoping we see more of her in the future.

The set was nicely done by Bob Shea and depicted just the right amount of shabbiness needed, right down to the dusty books and dead plants.   Carole Meyer did a nice job with costumes, and a special “Great Job!” goes out to whoever assisted Griffin in making some very fast costume changes.

So for a change of pace…something a little different…check out Educating Rita at the Williamsburg Players, playing through April 10. For further information visit www.williamsburgplayers.org