Three acts, two people, one word: Oleanna. No Refund Theatre's (NRT) production of David Mamet's controversial and celebrated play takes the stage this Friday and Saturday.

The story stretches the boundaries of gender, class, age and political correctness in three conversations, each one act long.

Carol, played by Rebecca Schnitzer (sophomore-liberal arts), is a struggling student in search of a good grade.

She goes to her professor, John, played by Karl Spoerri (senior-anthropology) for help.

"The whole story is about communication, and the break down of it," Schnitzer said of her second NRT production.

"Both of the characters need something to happen, but almost nothing ever really does."

Co-director Kate Donohue (junior-English) agrees.

"I think David Mamet asks the audience to consider how people use language. Much of the play is about Carol and John trying to communicate with each other, and the failures they experience. One of the frustrating things about it is that every time you think they are going to reach each other, something stops them."

Donohue also said the play is a critique of the American education system, which talks about issues of political correctness and communication between individuals.

Spoerri said the issue of student-teacher relationships is also a major theme in the play.

"The play forces you to look at what education is all about and what the teacher's role in it should be, as well as the student's," Spoerri said.

Schnitzer said she found that her greatest difficulties of the play were not found in the complex issues that the play addresses, but in the conversation aspects of the dialogue.

"David Mamet writes conversations as they would really happen," Schnitzer said.

"He uses pauses, incomplete sentences, changes what the character is going to say in the middle of the line, as if the character is really thinking it. Both Karl and I had to really study our characters, as well as other David Mamet works. But it was nice to have two directors, two points of view, and with Hillary and Kate we had a lot of help with it all."

Spoerri describes this production as "the most challenging theatre experience I've ever done."

Co-director Hillary Cook (junior-art education) said she enjoyed the small cast and felt that, in having only two actors in the entire play, they all had a great opportunity to concentrate on the meaning and depth of the play.

"The cast has been so amazing," Cook said. "It's just two people, just them talking the entire time, and that can be very trying on an actor. But they have been so dedicated to it, they haven't had a day off in a very long time."

Donohue said the most rewarding part of directing this production has been working with the other people involved, discussing what David Mamet is talking about and watching the performances grow based on that.

"This is a play that isn't easy to watch," Donohue said.

"It's really thought provoking because it keeps the audience from taking a side. It critiques both characters and shows how honorable intentions on both parts can turn very ugly."

Cook agrees.

"The way the play is written leaves audiences really thinking about all the issues of the story, rather than being force-fed one specific message," Cook said.

"Everything he writes is important; everything he writes is loaded. It's important the audience walks away interpreting themselves what happened, thinking about the situation and relating it to any situations they have in their lives."

Oleanna will be performed at 8 p.m., tomorrow and Saturday, in 111 Forum. Admission is frgee.