Oleanna

What I liked

The actors were seriously fantastic. I cannot praise them enough. The direction was also really well thought out. Again, solid production I would probably love if not for the material.

What I didn't like

The director’s note talks about a version of this story where both characters are right. I went into this show blind (outside of having read the content warnings and feeling comfortable watching it), and decently enjoyed it until the third act. What is gained in the year 2023 by a show where a woman falsely accuses a professor of rape? This kind of story is extremely harmful and SO clearly written by a man 30 years ago. Not saying you can’t produce material that talks about sexual assault, this isn’t about tone-policing, but the specific details of this play promote the false narrative (that a lot of right-wing people like to use) that women falsely accuse men of sexual assault, when that is an EXTREMELY small minority. Especially learning this show was inspired by the Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas case? Horrendously, unimaginably offensive. The show then became exceedingly offensive from that point on, but offensive is something I can stomach without having to leave a review about it. It was the final moment of the play, where the professor beats his student to the ground and screams something along the lines of “rape you? Like I would ever touch you, you cunt!” that had me leaving the theatre crying. The trigger warning needs to be more detailed. That is what they are for. Violence is not clear enough, specify gender-based violence so I know not to attend your show. This show started out making me wish I could’ve reported the Professor I had who was creepy and sexist to me like the student in this show did, and left me glad I didn’t I guess.

My overall impression

I hate to write a negative review but I feel it is very necessary. If nothing else is taken from this review, please change the content warning to be more thorough. Right now it says “strong language and depictions of violence”—please include “mentions of sexual assault and rape” and PLEASE specify “gender-based violence.” This play should not be produced anymore because of it’s dated content that was clearly written by a man as well as directed by a man. The direction was fantastic and the actors were so skilled and talented, really everything about this show was great except the content and messaging of the play, as well as the lack of clear content warning.