OLEANNA at the Golden Theatre

(Seen 10/14/09)

In this incarnation of David Mamet's OLEANNA, returning to New York on Broadway, the cards seem to be more stacked against its poor male character than when it opened off-Broadway many years ago. The dialogue seems the same, intelligent and pointed, but the directorial attitude and the physical environment have charged and changed the balance of power.

Somehow, the situation of a failing female student, obviously psychologically disturbed, destroying the personal and professional life of an established professor, by crying 'sexual harassment', is an unlikely development, given the patently disturbed mental state of the accuser. While the low-key performances by Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman are on target, as controllably directed by Doug Hughes, they are in a totally unbelievable situation. It's hard to accept this as dramatic conflict.

Adding to the disbelief of this academic encounter is the vast office set, with the scenes interrupted by huge mechanical horizontal shades noisily lumbering up and down.

While David Mamet is a potent wordsmith, and usually a formidable story teller, this play becomes annoying rather than provocative.