He sits among the audience as do Deeya Maskey, Shanti Giri and Namrata Shrestha who all play the character Carol in the three-act play. [break]
The lights dim on the floor level stage that is set to look like a professor’s office and the audience readies itself to watch the play which deals with the issues of gender- politics, sexual harassment, political correctness and power play.
Written in 1992, the play unravels the story of John, a college professor and Carol, a student who is failing John’s class.
Carol seeks John’s help in understanding his subject as she constantly feels stupid for not being able to comprehend what is being taught despite having studied the assigned books and attending lectures.
An initially reluctant John, who is on the verge of being granted a tenure, agrees to help Carol on the grounds that she comes back to his office a couple of times and the fact that he ‘likes’ her.
Raising important questions on the universal problem in the education system that degrades one’s intelligence and capabilities to a grade, the plot enthralls the audience with the change in the power dynamics in Act II.
Directed by Dr Deborah Merola, a senior Fulbright scholar, Oleanna which is One World Theatre’s first production, leaves the audience, at places, uncomfortable with relatable instances in one’s lives.
Instances such as Carol explaining to John that she doesn’t seek revenge but understanding from him and John’s wrath on realizing that he has lost everything that he ever worked hard for in his life almost feel like a slice of real life.
Baral once again proves that he is an actor of immense talent.
Though initially he sounds very awkward speaking in English, by the end of the play his performance overpowers the use of language. Giri’s portrayal of the desperate Carol in the first Act, Shrestha’s entry in the second Act as the more composed and empowered Carol and Maskey’s enactment of the more forceful Carol in the third Act is done to a tee.
The three actresses very smoothly show the evolution that Carol undergoes.
The mastery in Mamet’s play often lie in the use of language (often referred to as ‘Mamet speak’), however, due to pronunciation and enunciation certain dialogues loses its impact due to grammatical errors and diction.
Having said that, Merola’s rendition of Oleanna is definitely a must watch for all theater enthusiast as well as novices, as the play sparks discussions and makes taking sides a little difficult.
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