Educating Rita is a great mix of pathos and humor

"One of the best theatre productions I've seen in a long time, I thought the interaction between them (the student--Whitney White and professor--Brad Woodard) was amazing. She is particularly amazing...the sparkle in her eyes from time to time. It is wonderful to see something that is performed time after time look so fresh," said Marcy Huttas of Wicker Park.

"The director (Richard Corley) did a great job. The music.. everything so perfectly put together that it just touched my heart. One of the best I have seen recently. It just feels so good," were the comments of Ethel Levy, who lives in the Loop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The buzz is about Shattered Globe Theatre's Jeff nominated presentation of Educating Rita by Willy Russell, a British playwright. First performed in 1980, it became a 1983 movie in which the professor was played by Michael Caine.

A married Liverpudlian hairdresser, Rita, from a working class English family decides that she wants to "learn everything." That passion changes her life and that of a grizzly professor, Dr. Frank Bryant, who at one point decided that close relationships with liquor bottles were preferable to other endeavors.

With well preformed English dialects, the two person acting team jostle and jab back and forth in lively interaction that while filled with a great deal of emotion, is also filled with much humor and comedy.

Though the costume changes for Rita are a bit dizzying and the speed with which they were performed astounding, they did provide for transition of time and change of the character's sophistication.

Scenery (Chelsea Warren, scenic designer )and music like the direction of Richard Corley were all well done. It is a production that should be seen before the last curtain falls on August 14.

Performed at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and 3 p.m.  On Sundays. Tickets are $28 with discounts for groups, students and seniors. The play is being performed at the Chicago Dramatist Theatre, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., 773.236.0764 or online.

A pre-opening interview with Whitney White:

Over lemonade and sweet potato fries on Division St. , Whitney White and I talked about her career and her role as Rita.

A 2008 graduate of Northwestern University, Whitney's degree is in political science and French. The only child of a single parent who worked hard to provide private education for her daughter, Whitney knew that she loved the theater but that her mom preferred her to go in the direction of law.

While Whitney was a good student she also kept her hand in theater. Jobs came her way right out of college and she became convinced that she could do well following her passion. Her mother is reluctantly realizing that they may be a good choice for her daughter.

Until her role as Rita, Whitney's roles were mainly in musical productions. Preferring to work in Chicago and New York she has spent time in productions in smaller towns. "I want to work and learn so I will go where I can get opportunities."

"When you come out of school, you think you know everything. Then you find that you don't...in fact you know nothing," Whitney explains.

"I'm so glad this group was willing to put someone different in the role of Rita. It is such a wonderful experience and I am learning so much."

She had her first job in a TV role which will be coming to small screens this fall in Playboy Club. Whitney lives in Ukrainian Village.

With her drive and determination along with her talent, I think that we will be seeing her in many more productions.