Unlike most Broadway plays, Oleanna has garnered quite a reputation for its rather controversial nature and the attempt to explore the darker sides of postmodernism, feminism and political correctness. This masterpiece of David Mamet begins with a female student feeling left out due to her professor's complicated teaching methods which forces her to approach the latter to try and resolve the issues. The teacher reacts in a somewhat undesirable manner with subtle sexual-aggressive gestures which raises serious doubts about his intentions. This results in the female student seeking vengeance against him with devastating consequences for the career of the professor.
The second and third acts of Oleanna depict the manifestation of the greyer shades of student's personality which brings out the controversial aspect of the storyline in its full perspective. It becomes difficult to ascertain if the professor is really the oppressed or can still be assumed to be the oppressor and if the female student has sought to fulfill her undeserved darker urges by victimizing the professor in the garb of seeking justice. The lines between political correctness and incorrectness, definitions of academic politics and emotional oppression through sexual harassment all become but blurred.
What Makes Oleanna Stand Apart
Paradoxically, it is this very unresolved nature of issues in the Oleanna which makes it such a brilliant plot for production. The remarkable direction of Doug Hughes, on the other hand, helps put the complex psychological profiles of both the teacher and student in broader perspective to be able to seek answers to ideological, political and academic relationships and implications. However, some experts contend that Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles have failed to do justice to the script and the potential of the production could not be realized.
The Cast And Crew
The production featured costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder and sets by Neil Patel. Before its Broadway opening on October 11, 2009, the show enjoyed successful innings at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles in the summer of 2008. The Broadway previews of Oleanna in Sep 2009 also featured "Take A Side" Talkbacks, 30-minute post performance discussions which involved experts like FOX News Channel legal analyst Lis Wiehl and Kathleen M. McKenna, harassment and dispute resolution litigator, to elaborate on the issues touched upon in the production.
It is suggested by experts that the 1992 production of the play featuring William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon which did far well than the current one in progress. The current productions is said to have fallen short on substance and laid more stress on rhetoric as it were.
However, if you would like to find out for yourself, the tickets for Oleanna are currently available from March 7, 2010 for the ongoing shows at the John Golden Theatre at 252 W. 45th Street. For online booking, which is far more convenient as compared to the other options, passes can be availed through a number of authorized online ticket brokers with great ease. The ticket prices range from $40 to $125 and online discounts of up to $57 are available in some cases.
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