Contemporary Theatre of Boston to stage Mamet classic

September 18, 2:25 PMBoston Theater ExaminerDonn Saylor

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Boston Theater Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Allan Mayo and Judith Kalaora in Oleanna. (Image: CTB)

The Contemporary Theatre of Boston will be presenting David Mamet’s renowned play Oleanna, October 8 – 17, at the Calderwood Pavilion in the Boston Center for the Arts.

Oleanna is a powerful, two-character play revolving around John, a male college professor, and Carol, the female student who accuses him of sexual harassment. It is soon revealed that Carol’s accusations could hinder John’s chances of achieving tenured status, and the power struggle between the two heightens as each character attempts to get through to the other. The themes of the play are thought to be inspired by the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings.

The play originally premiered in the Boston area, at Mamet’s theater company in Cambridge, back in 1992. William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon starred; Macy would go on to star with Debra Eisenstadt in the 1994 film version. A new Broadway production of Oleanna will be opening in New York in the coming weeks, featuring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles.

The Contemporary Theatre production stars Judith Kalaora as Carol, Allan Mayo as John, and is directed by Chris Cavalier, the company’s artistic director.

Tickets to Oleanna are $22.50 and $25 and are available through Boston Theatre Scene. Student and senior discounts are available.