The play focuses on the protagonist Rita. Rita is a hairdresser who is looking to study at university to better herself. At the start of the play, she is quite abstract, and there is lots of humour used to show she isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. Her tutor is Frank. He's quite a serious character, but we see a less serious side to him when he gets to know Rita properly.
Rita has a husband, Denny, and we get the impression he is intimidated by her passion to learn. We learn that he does not agree with her seeing Frank, and it's likely to be that he doesn't want to be less smarter than her. This could link to the fact that many people in Liverpool in the 80's were illiterate- she didn't want to fit into the category of being illiterate. She doubts herself many times throughout the novel, and underestimates how good she really is. Frank tries to tell her how good she actually is, but Rita is quite a stubborn character and won't have any of it.
In the centre section of the play, Frank invites Rita to dinner, but she doesn't go- she doesn't feel as though she'll fit in with the social class. E.g- saying the wrong thing and embarassing herself. There is also the introduction of the character 'Tiger'. Rita seems quite taken by him, and tends to talk about him a lot. We get the impression Frank is jealous, or feels 'put out'. This is where we see a different side to Frank. He decides he's going to take the opportunity he has been offered, and plans to go to Australia. Rita is unsure about her future at the end of the play, but she realises the real Tiger, and we see a special connection between Frank and Rita. The reader expects something romantic to happen, but instead we see Rita put her special talent to good use- by giving Frank a haircut before they part.
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