By Arlene McKanic
“Oleanna” might seem at first to be one of the tamer of David Mamet’s plays. There are only two characters, a college professor and his student. You would think a play set at a college would be more refined than a sleazy real estate agent’s office in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” or Hollywood in “Speed−the−Plow.” Yet, like the other plays, “Oleanna” deals with power.
“Who wields it, who has it, who abuses it, ” said director Tom Williams of the Douglaston Community Theatre.
As the show is a director’s choice, meaning the theater company let Williams chose his play rather than assigning one to him, Williams wanted something simple, with a small cast. He knew “Oleanna” from the movie version and it seemed challenging, so he decided to do it for the Douglaston Community Theatre.
The play is something of a departure from the usual fare put on at Douglaston. “It’s a tough subject,” said Williams. “It’s not a comedy or a murder mystery.”
The two actors are Frank Freeman as John and Lenna Parisyan as Carol.
“Lenna I precast,” said Williams. “I saw her in a couple of shows and had strong recommendations. I auditioned for the male part.”
“What I wanted to bring to the play is something that real theater people will enjoy as a true Off Broadway experience,” Williams said. “I want people to think about sexual harassment.”
Though a bit different, the play has Mamet’s’ spiky writing and dialogue, though the playwright’s trademark foul language is kept to a minimum.
Tom Williams has been doing community theater for about 14 years. “This is my 15th production as a director, though I began as an actor,” he said.
Some of the plays he directed are “Come Back Little Sheba,” “Frankenstein” and “Dial M for Murder.” His first show was the musical “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman!” which he did because he’s a Superman fan. As an actor he’s mostly played villains — he played the killer in “The Mousetrap” and the monster in “Frankenstein” — but fortunately he didn’t have to endure too many long makeup sessions.
What he’d like audiences to bring to “Oleanna” is “an open mind, and hope you’re up for something to make you think a little bit. You don’t have to check your brains at the door. “
He has heard arguments between husbands and wives — the husband sides with the professor and the wife sides with the student, usually, and Williams is pleased that “Oleanna” makes people angry. “Theater isn’t just about entertainment.”
“Oleanna,” by the way, gets its name from one of those failed 19th century utopias. There’s also a song about the place that contains some notoriously misogynistic lyrics.
If You Go
Oleanna — By David Mamet. Presented by the Douglaston Community Theatre.
When: Feb 20− 21 & 27− 28 at 8 p.m.; Feb 22 & 28, 2 p.m.
Where: Zion Episcopal Church, 44th Ave and Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston
Cost: $14 adults, $12 seniors, & group discounts for 10 or more
