Frank, played by John Pratt, listens to one of the many diatribes by his student Rita, played by Kaaren Spanski-Dreffin, during a rehearsal for "Educating Rita" at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia.
John Pratt, who plays Frank in "Educating Rita," mocks his co-star Rita, played by Kaaren Spanski-Dreffin, during a rehearsal for the show that opens June 22 at the Evergreen Playhouse in Centralia.
There will be parts of “Educating Rita” that will remind people of the classic “My Fair Lady” story.
But then there will be times it will turn that story upside down.
“It’s ‘Pygmalion’ but Pygmalion is running the show,” said Norma Rogers, director of the show, which opens June 22 at the Evergreen Playhouse.
Written by British playwright Willy Russell, the story set in the 1980s follows the story of Frank (played by John Pratt), a burned-out college professor teaching at an English university near Manchester. In an effort to make the university more American, the college enlists Frank to help start a night school for adults. When he first meets his student, the brash and outspoken Rita, he’s not so sure he’s up for the job. But she assures him he is the teacher for her and they embark on a journey of friendship and learning.
“It’s a story of how two people grow into this role in their relationship,” Pratt said. “They become friends and then life has unanticipated surprises and they need each other to change. It’s a romantic comedy in a way but it also has its serious moments.”
Pratt first saw “Educating Rita” on a stage in London in 2010. He was aware of the story because of a 1983 movie starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters but said when he saw the two-person play he knew he needed to bring the show to the Evergreen Playhouse.
“The underlying story, the significance of the late bloomer that comes in at just the right time and helps this professor discover that there is an enjoyment in what he’s doing, is significant,” Pratt said. “We will also see that growth in Rita. It will remind people of that first meeting as a student meeting your professor.”
Rogers said one of the themes that really drew her to “Educating Rita” was the role of Rita, who is trying very hard to better herself through education. Rogers said while the 1960s get credit for women’s liberation, it was really not until the 1980s that women were really coming into their own in terms of seeking higher education.
“And I think women are still trying to find themselves today so it’s as relevant now as it ever was,” Rogers said.
Kaaren Spanski-Dreffin, who plays Rita, had the challenge of learning her lines with a middling accent that is part Scottish, part Irish, part Cockney and very hard to describe. She said it helps that she loves BBC television shows and spent 2009-2010 studying acting in Northern Ireland but the main thing was practice, practice, practice.
“I can’t stop talking in it once I start,” the actress said with a laugh.
The two characters and their relationship is what Spanski-Dreffin feels is one of the strong suits of “Educating Rita.” And the Evergreen’s version is assisted by two actors who are also very good friends. Spanski-Dreffin and Pratt have known each other for 10 years. Pratt was one of Spanski-Dreffin’s college professors and the two have previously acted together on the Centralia College stage. Both were also part of the recent run of “Gypsy” which Rogers also directed.
“It’ll speak to everybody and it’s just funny,” Spanski-Dreffin said. “And the chemistry between Frank and Rita is really neat, they become really good friends and I think John and I have a really good relationship and that helps.”
