by Stacey Mleczko
Features Editor
Students at the University of La Verne are known to have close relationships with their professors but not many experience the controversy that threatens their professor’s livelihood and provokes sexual harassment accusations.
One student used her powers to get the best of her professor. Yolanda Galaz Rodriguez plays Carol in Dailey Theatre’s production of “Oleanna.”
Rodriguez adopted David Mamet’s script of “Oleanna” as her senior project. She and Obren Milanovic are the cast of the play and together create a fiery explosion on stage.
Act One opens with Carol asking her professor, John, played by Milanovic, for clarification in his course. The two meet, isolated in John’s office while he is distracted and she grows frustrated.
John is a cynical educator and he supports the ideals that higher education is a waste and academic freedom a bust.
Throughout the three scenes, the two opposite characters ironically parallel each other and climatically switch roles. Entering as a vulnerable, ignorant student, Carol flutters up the words to ask for help. John advantageously speaks to her as though nothing can make her understand.
His ability to hold his power in such high regard triggers something in Carol and she is motivated to turn the table. She cannot connect with his ideals and interprets them as sexist ideologies. She returns a week later to confront him as a more confident, educated student or, better yet, woman, attempting to eliminate her obvious vulnerability that he preys on.
With the help and encouragement of an outside feminist support group, Carol misconstructs an advance by John. She reports it to the university tenure committee, therefore threatening his job and ultimately his power.
Between scenes and after the final curtain closed, the cast and audience were encouraged to discuss and interpret the events. This allowed for expansion on all aspects of the play and introduced a contemporary analysis of the characters.
Milanovic said in his profile that he hopes this production can be used as an instrument of reflection for faculty and students alike.
“Oleanna” opened Nov. 30 in the Cabaret and continues with two more shows tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
