Theater Review: Thought-provoking 'Oleanna' an evening of controversy

None Too Fragile continues to offer some of the best, most thought-provoking theater around with the David Mamet drama "Oleanna" at its tiny Akron venue.

This two-person show, written by Mamet in 1992, is just as topical as ever today as it explores the power struggle between university professor John and female student Carol. The entire 80-minute play, which runs without intermission, takes place in the professor's basement office, where he meets with Carol to talk about her difficulties with his class.

Actors Sarah Blubaugh and Doug Sutherland do a remarkable job mastering Mamet's disjointed dialogue as Carol and John speak in sentence fragments and cut each other off during their confusingly confrontational first meeting. John at first seems careless about Carol's concerns, too wrapped up in the phone calls he keeps getting about a house he's purchasing.

Blubaugh's Carol starts out bewildered and upset, insisting that she's done everything that she's "been told," including buying Johns' book, but still doesn't understand the concepts in his class.

He, on the other hand, is high on his professorial power. John raises an early red flag when he says Carol has paid him the "obeisance" of coming in to talk to him. He is the superior who enjoys his student deferring to him and enjoys his position of power.

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Sutherland's John is clearly arrogant. He tells his student he's not her father, a statement that perplexes her, but he seems to have somewhat of a god complex. He also reveals his hypocrisy by criticizing higher education as "systematic hazing" in his book, while at the same time, he's about to receive tenure from that same system.

Blubaugh shows us in the first scene that Carol has some fire, as she tells her professor not to interrupt her and tells him he's not God. She also accuses him of calling her stupid, a twisting of some of his seemingly benign words that foreshadow more accusations to come.

Professor strikes a deal with student in 'Oleanna'

John thinks he's being benevolent when he strikes a deal with the distressed Carol about her grade. But is he? And would he ever have had the same dynamics or made the same deal with a male student?

Mamet's style of dialogue has both John and Carol speaking quite formally from the start. They don't use contractions, and even though she says she doesn't understand some of John's words, Carol uses advanced vocabulary herself.

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The formal language sounds somewhat surprising coming from a college student in private conversation but Mamet seems to be using the device to show that Carol is not stupid, that these two sparring characters are actually on equal footing.

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Carols flips the power structure on John in the play's two ensuing scenes, accusing him of sexual harassment. Mamet's play premiered the year after the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas sexual harassment debate.

This drama, which includes adult subject matter and depictions of violence, is for mature audiences. None Too Fragile audiences can expect more Mamet fare in the upcoming 2023 season, with his 1975 "American Buffalo" slated for next fall.

"Oleanna," which was adapted into a film in 1994, raises many more questions than answers as the struggle between Carol and John escalates over several meetings. Is John just a blowhard who overshares or did he behave inappropriately with Carol in their initial meeting? Are Carol's accusations fair or justified?

"Oleanna" asks uncomfortable questions about hypocrisy, manipulation, sexual politics and truth.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Drama: "Oleanna"

Where: None Too Fragile, 732 W. Exchange St., Akron

When: Continuing through Oct. 22, 2 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Monday, 8 p.m. Thursday

Onstage: Sarah Blubaugh, Doug Sutherland

Offstage: David Mamet, playwright; Sean Derry, director/set designer; Margene Rannigan, stage manager/props designer; Olivia Queener, assistant stage manager; Marcus Dana, lighting design; Tom Barnes, sound design; Sarah Blubaugh and Doug Sutherland, costume design

Cost: $30

Information: nonetoofragile.com, 330-962-5547

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Confrontation grows in masterfully acted 'Oleanna' at None Too Fragile