Theatre Guild Announces Complete Casting for OLEANNA

The University of Adelaide Theatre Guild is delighted to announce that renowned Adelaide actor and director Brant Eustice will be playing the role of ‘John' in its forthcoming production of OLEANNA by David Mamet. He will be joined on stage by third-year University of Adelaide Law and International Studies student, Rachael Grauwelman-Smith who takes on the role of student ‘Carol'. John is a University Lecturer on the brink of achieving tenure. Carol, a failing student, comes to his offIce To discuss her poor class performance.

OLEANNA is a savagely ironic play that explores the inadequacies of the University education system, portrays the delicate boundaries that exist between teacher and student, and brutally charts a relationship that degenerates before the audiences' eyes. But what actually happens in this see-saw of power? Is it male predatory harassment? Rampaging feminist propaganda? Or something else entirely? You be the judge.

 

Director and Theatre Guild Chair Ben McCann said "This fascinating play represents different things to different people. What is certain is that Mamet depicts a bitter battle for power between two dogmatic individuals whose inability to communicate and whose use and abuse of jargon and political correctness undermine basic issues of freedom of thought. It's a wonderful play and I'm delighted to be working with two such committed and inquisitive actors who revel in the rhythms and cadences of Mamet-speak."

 

OLEANNA was written in 1992 in the aftermath of the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings in which Hill, a university law professor, alleged sexual harassment against US Supreme Court nominee Thomas. The case not only brought the term "sexual harassment" into common parlance, but also highlighted the imbalance in gender politics in the early 90s.

John is a university lecturer on the brink of achieving tenure. Carol, a failing student, comes to his offIce To discuss her poor class performance. Midway through the play, depending on your point of view, an act of sexual harassment does or does not happen. A bitter battle for power ensures between two dogmatic individuals whose inability to communicate and whose use and abuse of pseudo-jargon and political correctness threatens to undermine basic issues of freedom of thought.

Oleanna is a savage and ironic play that explores the inadequacies of the University education system, portrays the delicate boundaries between teacher and student, and brutally charts a relationship that degenerates before the audience's eyes.  Harold Pinter said of it: "There can be no tougher or more unflinching play than Oleanna." The play's title is taken from a Norwegian folk song about a 19th century vision of utopia.

Tickets: $25 Full Price and $20 Concession (Student, Pensioner, Unemployed, Seniors, MEAA, Friends of Barr Smith Library).  Tuesday performances: $15 for current University of Adelaide staff and students. Groups of 10+ can order from 8303 5999: tix at concession price or BASS 131 246 (Fee applies)

Tickets for Oleanna may be booked through The Theatre Guild on 8303 5999 or online at www.adelaide.edu.au/theatreguild. Phone or online bookings should be collected at the Little Theatre box office no later than 10 minutes before the advertised starting time. In the event of sellout performances, we reserve the right to on-sell tickets booked but not paid for by the advertised starting time.

We offer phone credit card bookings on 8303 5999 (fee applies) and tickets can also be booked through BASS on 131 246 (fee applies). Tickets are normally also available for purchase at the theatre on the night of the performance (cash sales only).

How to find the Little Theatre:
The Little Theatre is a comfortable 120-seat theatre located on the University of Adelaide's Lower North Terrace Campus, in The Cloisters. This is a colonnaded area clearly visible from Victoria Drive on the western side of the pedestrian lights near the University footbridge. The Little Theatre is located in the south-western corner of The Cloisters. After-hours parking (ticket machine) is available in the University grounds: enter Gate 10, Victoria Drive. Please note that there is no reserved seating in the Little Theatre and limited wheelchair access. After hours parking is available in the University grounds (ticket machine) - GATE 10 NEAR CLOISTERS

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