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Former professor ‘educates’ in new play
Richard Hill set to star in ‘Educating Rita’
Richard Hill, a former mass communications chair and professor at SCSU, will be starring in the production of “Educating Rita” at Pioneer Place on Fifth beginning Feb. 7.
A theater enthusiast for most of his life, Hill is no stranger to the stage.
“All of my life I have been involved in theater in one capacity or another,” Hill said. “ The total number of plays I’ve directed, produced, and acted in is around 200-300 plays.”
When Hill started teaching at SCSU, he had less time to devote to theater, but he still made time for summer sessions.
“I taught ethics, intro class, radio, speech, all the photo classes and some writing. When I became chair I had no time for creative involvement in theater, but I did participate in the summer theater program in Alexandria,” Hill said.
Now that he has retired, Hill has more time to spend on his favorite interests, photography, and theater. Hill’s most recent creative venture is “Educating Rita.”
According to Hill, the play is about the interactions that take place between non-traditional student Rita and her tutor Frank, a jaded and burned out professor.
“Educating Rita” was originally written by Willy Russell, and made into a film in 1983 starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.
“It’s a comedy and a love story dealing with the contrasts. Both characters are from a section of life that the other doesn’t know about,” Hill said. “ The uncommon elements they learn from and the common elements they build from.”
Art Przybilla, Hill’s friend of over 40 years and director of “Educating Rita,” finds the play to be thought-provoking and insightful.
“It has a lot to say about education,” Przybilla said. “ I’ve been in education for a lot of years, and this play brings up more questions than I’ve ever thought of.”
This is the third play the Przybilla-Hill duo has presented at Pioneer Place. Preceding “Educating Rita” were “An Evening with Lincoln,” which they reproduced from a play they did in the 1970s, and “The Gin Game.”
“Finding good plays for a small cast is difficult. We’ve considered this play for years and now that we have the opportunity, we decided to go for it,” Przybilla said.
The small cast is both a blessing and a curse for Hill.
“There are just two of us, and we are on stage for the whole time, and that is challenging,” Hill said.
Hill and co-star Virginia Ann Sweeney, who plays Rita, have been practicing for four months, with rehearsals increasing as opening night nears.
“It’s a process and we are trying to keep it so it is peaking by the time the play will begin,” Hill said.
After the play is through, Hill and Przybilla both plan to continue enjoying their retirement by remaining active in the things they care about.
“Theater and photography are continuous processes,” Hill said. “I am always doing something with theater, whether it is consulting with someone, planning what to do next, and with whom. I am also working on a phone exhibit for late spring or early summer. And keep learning. Because when you stop learning, you are dead.”
Przybilla has his passions, too.
“Every year I keep saying I will do a little more writing. Maybe I will write a play for two old guys and he [Hill] and I will star in it,” Przybilla said. “That’s one of the nice things about where we are in life right now, we don’t have any deadlines unless we set them ourselves.”
The play is scheduled to run Feb. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 at Pioneer Place on Fifth (22 Fifth Ave.) All show times are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are sold in The Veranda or over the phone (203-0331), for $16, with student, senior and group rates available.
“Any adult audience would probably appreciate this play. The more insightful the individual the more he will be entertained,” Przybilla said.
Kristen J. Kubisiak can be reached at: [email protected]
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