Theatre
February 21st, 2010
Two or three years ago, a friend named Daniel Pastor told me that he wanted to translate David Mamet’s Oleanna and produce it onstage in Mexico City. Politely, I tried to discourage him, pointing out that the play had already been translated and produced here in the mid 1990s. I wondered out loud whether a twenty-year-old play that deals with sexual harassment would be understood in a country where sexual harassment is common, if not the norm.
Luckily, Daniel didn’t give up. I went to the opening last Saturday and, to judge from the audience reaction, Oleanna is as relevant as ever — perhaps more meaningful in Mexico today than it was fifteen years ago, as more people wake up to the concept of harassment.
It is a two-character play about a seemingly mousy and hapless university student who comes to a professor’s office to implore him not to give her a failing grade. As John, the harried teacher, Juan Manuel Bernal’s long-winded, pedantic speechifying is spot-on, but as Carol, his surprising pupil, Irene Azuela kicks ass. When the power shifts in the second and third scenes of the play, she is frightening in her intransigence and vengefulness.
Oleanna is on a Thursday through Sunday schedule at Teatro El Granero, behind the Auditorio Nacional in Chapultepec Park. Sadly, most of my friends in Mexico City never go to the theatre. Don’t even think about missing this.
Labels: Mexico City
5 Responses to “Theatre”
By michael on Feb 23, 2010
Sexual harassment is wrong but the American solution is equally wrong. It is whistle at a girl and: Arrested, thrown in jail, sued for millions in a class action and branded a sex offender for life. All in all male/female relationships are changing in Mexico. The macho man is slowly dieing. I think the Mexican male is living on borrowed time before the Mexican women take over. A Mexican woman President would be a joy to see.
By Paul Roberts on Feb 23, 2010
I think Oleanna is a brilliant play. The film (1994) which David Mamet directed and wrote and which stars William H. Macy and Debra Eisenstadt is also very good.
Although on one level the play is about sexual harassment and sexual politics, I think on a deeper level it is about all power relations and how power shapes different discourses
I hope to get to Mexico City to see the play.
By Judy on Feb 23, 2010
I bet it’s better than the supposedly awful recent production here with Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles.
I remember when we saw the original in NY with the excellent Bill Macy and Mamet’s wife (the less said about her, the better), we talked about it for hours after. I think it’s great they are showing it in Mexico and would love to eavesdrop on the conversations it provokes.
By Strika on Feb 24, 2010
I never go to the theatre because there is almost no good theatre here. But I do love theatre and I appreciate your recommendation. Thanks!
By Strika on Mar 27, 2010
Por fin la vi hoy. Wow. Quedé impresionada. Además las actuaciones son impactantes, sobre todo la de Bernal. ¡Gracias por la recomendación!