Educating Rita is a smart play centered around the value of a classical (i.e. liberal arts) education, and how it can make your life more meaningful. Rita and Frank are at opposite ends: Rita is younger and hopes that education is the way out of her humdrum life, while Frank is older and drinks in his university office with its prison of learned books. There is a nice counterbalance between their opposite trajectories, and how the two of them manage eventually to find solace in their uneasy student/teacher relationship. The play has a lot of funny moments as these two characters life experiences clash.
Performance: I saw this play on February 16, 2014 at the Northside Theatre Company in San Jose (which closed in 2021). I can't say too much about the quality of the performances of the two actors: they were perfect, and got a well deserved standing ovation. If you get a chance, go see it and support live theater. It is well worth it: it is performed in a small theater (about 50 seats) with easy parking, and you get to meet the actors after the play.