On Wednesday 4th November, I was lucky enough to see the play ‘Educating Rita’, at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, just hours before England entered Lockdown 2.0. Not only was this outing a novelty that I had not enjoyed since prior to March 2020, but it was also a 'Covid Experience', with what I knew normally about seeing a show to have been tailored and engineered to suit the demands of Covid.
The show itself was excellently done. ‘Educating Rita’ was written by Willy Russell, who also wrote the screenplay of the famous British film by the same name, made in 1983, starring two of the ‘Greats’, Julie Walters and Michel Caine. It is about an uneducated Liverpudlian woman in the 1980s wanting to change up her life by giving herself the chance for choice, and the chance to get to learn about EVERYTHING. With the help of her Open University tutor, keen-on-the-drink Frank, she finds herself, and grows into a woman with educated opinions. It entails a mix of comedy, love and a pinch of realism as you watch the characters struggle to establish themselves in life's story.
In a way, watching the performance was bittersweet. Although everything was done professionally, the parts brilliantly acted and the stage well designed, there was an overhanging sadness that, after so much time, effort and dedication, the show was to be cancelled having only run for three days. The sympathy from the audience was made clear as the performers took their final bows and enjoyed a standing ovation - call it a clap of support by the many people who were upset to see the actors have to pause their careers for the second time this year and forgo their brief parts in such an entertaining show.
Despite having to close again, the Rose Theatre was very successful in installing protective Covid measures prior to the new lockdown rules. Many of these I noted during my visit such as spacing of about three seats in between each different bubble, turning the show into a one-act play to prevent any unnecessary mixing during an interval break, and having to wear a mask at all times. For those who enjoy a bit of a drink or snack during a performance there is no need to fear! The Rose Theatre had the ability to simply pre-order drinks to be brought right to you before the play started.
The performance sector is one of the industries that has suffered the most as a result of Covid-19, and the people who have careers in this area desperately need continued public support. Hopefully when this latest lockdown lifts, events like shows and entertainment will be able to reopen. If Educating Rita is available again, I would definitely recommend it to anyone age 13+.
