Reader Reviews
Oleanna (Garrick Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Julia Styles was faultless in this intriguing play. First act left me thinking what the hell is this all about, but act 2 and 3 had me gripped and I really hated Julia's character.. what an impact at the end as well. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.35.141.121) | 15 Jul 04 |
| Good performances and an interesting story. It's not an easy ride, but it is worth effort. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (12.39.71.54) | 01 Jul 04 |
| It's one of these plays that makes you feel somehow tired and depressed after all, but it also gave me, an average teen-age girl, the side view of human, adult, ugliness and how we/they contradict or conflict wrongly/rightly. Anyway, both actors were amazing! In the beginning, I quite didn't get the character of Carol but then the each process was built up by Julia Styles so well in each scene that I felt as if I knew what she had gone through between the scenes. Of course, the same thing goes to Aaron Eckhart's brilliant performance too. Altough I enjoyed it, I very much don't want to think about this play again for next couple of months. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.158.233.19) | 24 Jun 04 |
| I went to see this play on Saturday night and overall I have to say it was great. My sister and I had half price tickets from the tkts booth and were in the second row - I agree that £35 for 90 mins is very steep. I knew a little about the play before I went but even so I found the first act very difficult to get into. Not because of the acting, but the script. There was an awful lot of unfinished sentences and talking over one another that it took a while to get a feel for what they were trying to say. It really did improve as it went on however and the final scene was incredible, if a little nerve-wracking for those sat too close to the stage - the front 3 rows all ducked in unison! I know that there is a tradition of putting down american film actors in the west end and admittedly we did go choose to see this particular play because of the two stars, but I do go to the theatre fairly regularly and I have to say they are both very talented individuals who are not in any way undeserving of appearing here. For all those who gave this a poor review after leaving in the interval I really do think you would have changed your mind had you stayed to the end. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.68.200.198) | 14 Jun 04 |
| The opening exchanges of staccato dialogue between these two irritatingly implausible characters is uncovincing and shortly becomes very irritating. Few sentances are finished - they hang stalled in the air awaiting the anticipated interruption. I've seen Mamet good but this is a stinker. Each character has been distorted out of plausible shape in trying to fit his plot scheme. I went back after the interval hoping things would improve but only good manners kept me from quitting this one before the end. (looking at the high proportion of young females in the audience I suspect there was an attraction other than the play here. Is that PC or what?) - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.184.237.34) | 10 Jun 04 |
| The play does'nt take you anywhere. I'm a woman and I found it hard to understand what made the character of the female student (played by Julia Styles), so angry. I don't think the fault is Julia's- she played her part rather well. I think the fault is Mamet's- he did'nt write the female character well. The best thing- it is a short play. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.219.73.92) | 05 Jun 04 |
| Stunning - packs a real punch. Only possible quibbles would be the inclusion of an interval, which kills the momentum dead, and Posner's direction, which leans towards making Carol an out-and-out bitch, rather than giving it ambiguity. Nevertheless, outstanding. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.152.159.26) | 27 May 04 |
| Bravo! As pointed a theatrical assault as it was a few years back...an excellent night out. Both actors are wonderful, especially Mr. Eckhart as a younger, sexier version of the character. He is perfect and heartbreaking as he tries to swim the riptide of political correctness. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (4.159.237.39) | 23 May 04 |
| I was thrilled that a play which is so thought provoking is being performed in the West End, rather than at a subsidised theatre. Eckhart and Stiles have absolutely cracked their roles - a super evening. And I rowed with my boyfriend for hours after. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.159.62.29) | 12 May 04 |
| Great to see this milestone play cast younger than usual and thereby give a boost to its characters' credibility. The performances slowly crank up the tension to breaking point so the climax is both horrifying and energising. You may find your reason and emotion pulling in opposite directions. It should give anyone with a brain plenty of scope for argument with friends or especially work/college colleagues. Just about the most 'relevant' play in London today. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.169.146) | 07 May 04 |
| Just awful. I was expecting something a little more thoughtful, but what you get is 2 incredibly unlikeable people, and a whole lot of fuss about nothing. Only in America could calling your wife "baby" be considered offensive. Avoid. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.111.24.43) | 04 May 04 |
| Hardly fair to lower the average rating by reviewing the audience (below) and leaving at the interval! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.173.178) | 27 Apr 04 |
| Not sure if it was Mamet's language or the restless audience, but I couldn't get into this, so my friend and I left at the interval. You can 'turn off' the regular rumble of the tube under the theatre, but it's the old chestnut... down go the lights and out come to the crisps, drinks and sweets. Oh, and thanks to the dozy, ignorant twonk who left their mobile phone on - right in the middle of a scene came the loudest polyphonic ring I've ever heard. Unforgiveable. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.130.127.205) | 26 Apr 04 |
| This is an excellent production. Only two actors but what a script and what performances. The evening may be short but there is so much in the writing that I was totally engrossed by it all. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.194.15) | 25 Apr 04 |
| First class acting and a first class script. Very thought provoking. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.6.126.55) | 23 Apr 04 |
| At least WOS outings with discounted tickets are doing Plays a favour as doubt many of the reviews below would have appeared if they had had to pay for a full price ticket without a party to mingle with fellow types!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.130.141.108) | 20 Apr 04 |
| People take theatre for too seriously ,its supposed to be entertainment going to the theatres and at £35 isnt it for a play over in 90 mins ,far too short and badly acted rubbish. Too much bad news in Iraq and the World to spend so much money on seeing this depressing CRAP. I guarentee more people will hate this play than like it and especially the majority that read these boards and would hate them to just go along to see a Hollywood actress as they would be wasted there money. Luvvie types may love it but they are certainly in the minority I think and the theatre was half full that speaks more than any review can as this play and its cast has not got any appeal. Mament has had his day people are sick of his short plays about perverted sex. A V O I D !! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.130.141.108) | 20 Apr 04 |
| I went last night and loved it. I thought both actors were very strong and really brought the play to life in a way in which David Suchet and Lia Williams didn't, a few years back. I know it is trendy to slag off those hollywood types coming over here f9or a bit of instant kudos back home but in this case they realy did well. It was good to see the theatre full of people under 30 too. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.162.110.236) | 20 Apr 04 |
| I thought this was very interesting - Eckhart takes to Mamet's stylised language like a duck to water. Stiles was rather too monotonous for my liking. But I realised that, for me, the only way to make this play work is to play the student as in love with the lecturer, so that her later actions are motivated - vindictive and revengeful. Otherwise its impossibe to see her as anything more than a representation of something rather than a fully formed thinking human being.Here they avoided this and so I wasn't convinced by her behaviour. Worth seeing though. A thought-provoking night. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 20 Apr 04 |
| Oh dear what an awful short evening in the theatre if you can call 1 hour 20 mins (yes it has a long interval)an evening out! The worst show I have ever seen in London , not sure if that is because Julia Stiles is so bad or because the play is a pile of pants, but I got a comp but if I had paid £35 for this rubbish I would be very upset, all in all Stiles is yet another Yank actress thinking she is a stage actress and failing badly. Aaron Eckhart try's very hard but must be mad for doing this play with her and doing his bright career no good at all. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (205.188.116.213) | 20 Apr 04 |
| I went on the WOS event to this show last night and was truly blown away. To be honest, I wasn't too keen. I'd seen the original production at the Royal Court and didn't think it bore revisiting but my friend really wanted to go. It was so much better than I remember! And so good to see these two very talented American actors take on the role. It was also a very good decision to cast the parts younger. So much - the sexual tension, the fine line, the power game - made more sense to me afterwards. And it was great debating and arguing with other theatregoers at the drinks afterwards! A very thought-provoking and enjoyable evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 17 Apr 04 |
