Mamet's Oleanna to debut at Octagon
DAVID Mamet’s Oleanna is a play that shocked and divided its audiences at its premiere in the United States in 1992 and later in London.
That British premiere of Oleanna was directed by Harold Pinter and Iqbal Khan, who’s directing the new version of this controversial play at the Octagon Theatre Bolton, worked closely with Pinter in his most recent productions at the National Theatre.
He was also the National Theatre tour director for Rafta Rafta, Oleanna marks his debut at the Octagon.
John is a university professor seeking a long-term contract, and Carol his student who, having struggled to get her place is desperate to convince him to change her failing grade.
Their relationship unfolds in blistering dialogue and dramatic shifts until Carol accuses John of sexual harassment, which puts his whole academic future and life under threat. What is the truth of these allegations? Who do we believe and who is guilty?
American actor Colin Stinton, who has worked extensively at the Royal National Theatre and has a wealth of television, film and stage acting behind him, plays the role of John.
Since moving from New York to London in 1985, Colin has worked extensively at the Royal National Theatre, in world and British premieres of plays, including several by Mamet including Mr. Happiness, A Sermon, and Speed-the-Plow.
Romance
He’s also starred in Mamet’s The Old Neighborhood and Edmond at the Royal Court, as well as Romance at the Almeida.
In fact, he also played Edmond in the original Goodman Theatre production of Mamet’s play in Chicago and New York, and his other work in Chicago includes premieres of Mamet’s The Water Engine.
So you might reasonably say that he’s pretty familiar with the great American writer’s work!
Even he agrees, though, that Oleanna is the Mamet play that most usually has audiences on the edge of their seats, for all sorts of reasons.
“Of course, the subject matter – sexual politics – always gets people excited,” he acknowledges, “but it’s also something about the structure.
"David’s plays, if you think about them, tend to feature trios of one kind or another, In Oleanna, there’s just the two people on stage and the audience which seeems to ratchet the tension up by several notches.”
Colin attributes his empathy with Mamet’s work to the fact that they both grew up in Chicago.
“That makes the rhythms of the dialogue a lot easier. But even so, his dialogue is so precise that, when you go wrong, boy, do you know all about it!”
Oleanna is at the Octagon Theatre until Saturday, May 23. £9 - £18.50. Call 01204 520661.
Published: Thu, 30 April, 2009
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