![]() ![]() Her performance was, put simply, mesmerising. Rita was portrayed by Kate Gillespie-Allan. It is the art of a true professional to know how to balance your own role to permit another to flourish in their role. What I really admire is James’s ability to create a relational partnership against which his co-star could deliver an outstanding performance as the title character, Rita. What’s more is that James was able to land the sincerity and compassion also demanded by the role, ensuring that the nurturing educator, deep within Frank, peered through the whisky soaked cynic the audience first met. James handled the full range that the character of Frank has to offer: the execution of the aggression, self-pity, jealousy, and drunkenness were perfect. I struggled at first to click with the character, but then I realised this was due to the creative genius of the actor, whose use of tone and pace created an intonation to his delivery that produced an aloft barrier between Frank and Rita, which in turn transferred to the audience. I congratulate James on his portrayal of the character, which he certainly made his own. Well done!įrank was portrayed by James Wallace. I am extremely impressed that Mark achieved a professional production in such a short rehearsal period, during the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was clear to me that his direction played a vital part in the characterisation offered by the cast: the direction granted the actors the space in which to create the authentic relationship required by the script. I am pleased that the rights holder finally succumbed to the repeated requests of Mark, because the company’s production of ‘Educating Rita’ was outstanding.ĭirection by Mark was of the highest standard. Russell uses the relationship as a backdrop against which to explore themes common to much of his work, namely: the British class system, politics, and education.īonkers had been trying to obtain the rights to stage a production of the play for six years. The comedic drama details the evolution of a relationship between Rita (a hairdresser-come-Open University student) and Frank (a Lecturer in English Literature). ‘Educating Rita’ was written by Willy Russell and its plot – perhaps, in part, due to the film adaptation starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine, but also due to its inclusion in the English curriculum in schools – is reasonably well known. With the Bonkers’s outstanding reputation in mind, I was thrilled to be invited to review its latest production, ‘Educating Rita’. The survival of the Playhouse and the company is to the credit of the sheer tenacity of Mark Walker and his team. It was, thus, a relief to me, that the home of this multi award winning company had survived the challenges of the past two years. The Playhouse also boasts a fully licensed bar, a comfortable lounge area, and extremely welcoming hospitality. ![]() The independent studio theatre is a special place: its small auditorium is ideal for the staging of the plays that the company is well known for. Since 2018, Bonkers has been the resident company of the Bonkers Playhouse Theatre, Kettering (‘Playhouse’). Put simply, the company helps to put the ‘D’ in NODA and has a litany of district, regional and national awards to prove it. Bonkers Theatrical (‘Bonkers’) is a formidable entity when it comes to the staging of drama. ![]()
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