Showboat closes season with ‘Educating’ comedy
Showboat Festival Theatre is closing out its 2018 summer season in Port Colborne with a comedy set in academia.
“Educating Rita,” by Willy Russell tells the story of dishevelled and disillusioned English tutor, Frank (Brad Rudy), who as of late has been prone to take a few too many shots from the whiskey bottles he keeps hidden in his book shelf.
The other side of the two-character production is the title character, played by Shannon Currie, a forthright 26-year-old hairdresser eager to learn.
The two characters come from different worlds, but the pessimistic professor and his plucky student are both looking for more out of life — Frank, a sense of purpose again; Rita, the world of academia outside of the day-today stuff of making a living.
Perhaps ironically, Frank sees little value in the very things Rita is craving, and he worries she’s all too willing to sacrifice the spontaneity that already makes her special in order to fit into the world of the culture and tastes of the upper classes.
Rita, quite naturally, is none too happy about Frank’s dismissal of the life she values, and can barely believe how he takes it for granted. Will Rita gain more of an education than she bargained for? Will the teacher also become the student? Find out in the production directed by Showboat artistic director Derek Ritschel.
Educating Rita opens Wednesday, Sept. 26, with 11 shows in total until closing on Oct. 6.
For more information or tickets, visit showboattheatre.ca or call the box office at 905-834-0833.