Educating Rita as Rita and Edward Herrmann as Frank. The production was directed by Bruce Paltrow and was critically acclaim with critics touting McKenzie's performance as "wonderfully beguiling and irrepressible...one of the best performances of the year". From 26 March-8 May 2010, as part of the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Laura Dos Santos reprised her radio performance on stage as Rita alongside Larry Lamb as Frank. This was the production's first London West End revival. This production transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End from 8 July-30 October 2010, produced by Sonia Friedman. Laura Dos Santos
Educating Rita (film) The Stag's Head. Filming also took place in Stonybatter with Aughrim St Church being used for the wedding scene. Stanhope St school was used as a production base. The American "Variety" magazine in December 1982 lauded Walters' interpretation of Rita as "[w]itty, down-to-earth, kind and loaded with common sense." "Rita," the review continues, "is the antithesis of the humorless, stuffy and stagnated academic world she so longs to infiltrate. Julie Walters injects her with just the right mix of comedy and pathos." Ian Nathan reviewing the film for Britain's "Empire" film magazine calls the film a "gem," and gives it