Oleanna

by David Mamet

Overview

A college student, Carol, drops by her professor's office in an effort to gain his help to do better in class. John, the professor, in the midst of buying a house to celebrate his nomination for tenure, at first seems distant. As the first meeting progresses the two discuss the nature of understanding and judgment in society, as well as their very own natures and places in our society. It seems as if a bond has been made. When next they meet we find that a report has been filed to the tenure committee. Carol has joined a "group" and has decided that John sexually harassed her during their first meeting. Their second meeting dissects the first; every word, every nuance of the first meeting has been twisted into something else. Or has it? John's unsuccessful attempts to convince Carol to retract her accusation escalate to a more dangerous level. The third meeting, one the court officers warned against, climaxes violently leaving John and Carol both physically and emotionally devastated.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822213437
Publisher:	Dramatists Play Service, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/01/1999
Sales rank:	187,324
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.76(h) x 0.13(d)

Editorial Reviews

OLEANNA is likely to provoke more arguments than any play this year.

NY Times

One of the ten best plays of 1992...reason enough to cheer for the future of the theatre.

Time