In his play "Educating Rita", Russell engages his audience on several different levels. I was engaged most by the themes and emerging ideas of the play, which in themselves consist of many engaging elements. The play can be seen as a social commentary, a tale filled to the brim with irony, a comedy or a study of personal change. Each of these themes can be engaging to Russell's audience, as each casts new light on what "Educating Rita" really is. This may be the reason for the play's popularity, as these themes provide a play which caters to people's varied tastes and perceptions.

One of the main ways "Educating Rita" engaged me was through the social criticisms made throughout the play. These criticisms were conveyed by Russell through Rita's and Frank's opinions and conversations. A main social flaw Russell brought to attention was the structure and division of...