Gripping drama will keep you hooked
4:57pm Sunday 3rd May 2009 in Search Module
Colin Stinton and Kosha Engler star in the gripping Oleanna
Oleanna The Octagon Theatre, Bolton Runs until May 23 IF you are in it for laughs, then David Mamet’s Oleanna is not for you, but for lovers of gripping theatre this spellbinding and controversial drama will keep you hooked until its shocking climax.
Director Iqbal Khan, in his first play at the Octagon, leaves plenty of room for the dialogue to shine in Mamet’s play, which examines a relationship between teacher and student at a time of political correctness and the emergence of feminism.
The spartan stage set almost acts like a cage in which lecturer John and student Carol pace around as their relationship develops and changes.
Oleanna is one of those plays in which a single word or move alters all of what has gone before and what was a working relationship takes a surprising twist which leads to an ending that, when the play was first staged in the United States, caused riots in the audience.
Broadway and West End actor Colin Stinton is awesome as John, whose desire to impress Carol and his willingness to let her into his life becomes more desperate as the play develops.
Kosha Engler is equally excellent as the eager-to-learn student, whose views of her teacher change as she tries to convince him to up her grade, leading to the ultimate conflict.
The Octagon was not full for this production, and while it may not be to the liking of fans of the likes of We Will Rock You, it would be a shame if this sort of play was to give way to the lighter side of entertainment.
Andrew Mosley l Tickets 520661 or log onto octagonbolton.co.uk
