Provincetown Theater to Present OLEANNA, 9/2-12

The Provincetown Theater is proud to present the Cotuit Center for the Arts production of, Oleanna*, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, Wednesday through Saturdays September 2-12. A Top Pick by Capecod.com, this riveting drama, is one of Mamet's most controversial plays. John, a college professor being considered for tenure, agrees to meet Carol, his female student, in his office to discuss her frustrations with the course he is teaching; a meeting which finds both teacher and student embroiled in a war of words with explosive results.

"Under the always able direction of John Williams, the intensity of the two actors is credible, confounding and compelling. Both inhabit their characters completely. At the end of the day, both characters are right and both characters are wrong. It speaks to the nuances, passions, egos and misguided paths humans are prone to."
-The Cape Cod Times

"Both play their characters to the hilt, resulting in an arresting final act that quite literally places the action at the audience's feet. This one will stay with you long after the final curtain."
-The Barnstable Patriot

"Oleanna is about how people communicate, or fail to communicate," said director John Williams, who has long wanted to direct this play. "They speak the same language, but their miscommunication, awkward and almost farcical at first, quickly becomes destructive and psychologically wounding. The devastating climax can leave the audience bewildered, enraged, and saddened. It is sure to provoke discussion."

The play premiered in 1992, but the issues it addresses-sexual harassment, political correctness, and failure to communicate-remain topical.

"Oleanna has often been misinterpreted," said Williams. "People think Mamet is taking sides, but he really isn't. The play could be interpreted as slamming the whole idea of political correctness or over-political correctness, but in actuality there are no winners in this play. Both sides come out fairly devastated in the end."

A professional actor from Provincetown, Jody O'Neil (John) has performed at the Provincetown Theater in ART and God of Carnage, among others, as well as in New York City. This fall he will shoot the role of Hal in the feature film Undercurrent produced by Goose & Gander.

Aisha Stewart (Carol) has performed in numerous plays at CCftA, including Stop Kiss, Moby Dick! The Musical, Center of Gravity, and others. She recently directed The Vagina Monologues at CCftA.

In addition to Oleanna, Williams has directed Sylvia at CCftA, and appeared as the Marquis de Sade in Quills and the Librarian in Underneath the Lintel.

* This production of Oleanna was originally produced by Cotuit Center for the Arts in the spring of 2015 and performed in their Black Box Theater.