Theater: Educating OLT

Why do theater companies choose the shows they do?

In the case of it’s production of Educating Rita, Olympia Little Theater is fundraising. The Directors’ note, written by actor John Pratt, indicates that this production was originally staged in 2012 at the Evergreen Playhouse with the same cast: John Pratt (Frank), Kaaren Spanski-Driffin (Rita), directed by Norma Rogers. When OLT was seeking additional revenue to make up shortfalls from the recent “Raise the Roof” project, Mr. Pratt suggested that they add Educating Rita as an 8th “bonus” show. It was already mounted, a guaranteed money maker. Perhaps.

Yes, you skip the lengthy rehearsal hours. No, you do not pay a director. Yes, you are able to get more people through the door, earn ticket income, gain patrons, donors and sponsors.

But you are still opening your doors, using lamp hours and taxing your equipment, stretching your volunteer labor. You need costumes and a Costumer, props, a set that must be designed and built, a Stage Manager and Tech to run the show. You’re still paying rights and royalties on each and every performance. You have to print posters and programs. Is it really easy money, and how much revenue is actually gained?

We saw Educating Rita the night it snowed, and I think the “blizzard” was on everyone’s mind. The house, which I was told had sold-out, was maybe half-full. I noted that the director was not brought back for this re-mount, and I feel some of the static blocking and monotonous moments could have been avoided had she returned.

Kaaren, as Rita, is bold and rough around the edges. She deftly carried off a rapid-fire litany of what seemed like endless words. I believed her blousy, earnest and fun Rita; you could fall for her indeed. A hairdresser with a husband who has started to pressure her into kids, Rita decides to go back to school in an Open University program. (Get it? Educating Rita?) The alternative format allows for a lot of alone time between student and teacher.

John plays this teacher with heart, and I feel the cues and overall nuance will improve throughout the run. There is clear motivation for his arc. We see Franks’ administration-tolerated alcoholism slide out of functional and into a 2 year imposed sabbatical as his fascination for Rita grows. His romantic (?) relationship with a live-in former student deteriorates as he unwittingly undermines Rita’s full bloom of confidence after a trip to London for summer school. She is able to learn and achieve without him. In fact, she performs better. Rita’s costumes run the spectrum of her character as she gains polish and maturity. Both actors did an admirable job with a massive line load.

Sometime recently, playwright Willy Russell added more dialogue to the script. One must assume he thought it was a good idea. I disagree. People, we could pantomime this story and still get the point. What this does, effectively, is give Community Theater crews the headache of staging more days, represented by seemingly constant costume changes for Rita. The audience is faced with a choppy and disjointed flow and frequent blackouts accompanied by transition music that pulled me out of the moment. It was a long show.

Olympia Little Theater deserves what they are fundraising for, replenishment of their “Rainy Day” fund and additional repairs and remodel (including more bathrooms, hey ladies!). John, Kaaren, and the crew are to be commended for their contribution to that effort. As Rick Pearlstein shared in his charming curtain speech, he got his start there along with countless Olympia talents. They are the oldest live-theater company in town (Since 1939!), and their dedication to providing quality for reasonable price is how they support Olympia. It will be exciting to see what they do with the improved theater space. ◙

Educating Rita plays at Olympia Little Theater, 1925 Miller Ave NE, Olympia. 7:55pm:2/20, 2/21 & 2/22 1:55pm: 2/23. Visit www.olympialittletheater.org for tickets and more information.