Oleanna is unique in Mamet's work - featuring a woman who first appears timid and mousey - ultimately gaining power in the epic struggle between she and her professor, John. As Mamet's rebuttal to political correctness, Oleanna gradually strips away all pretense and artifice as the two characters become locked in a primal battle for survival. The constant phone interruptions give us insight into the tightly wound construct of John's private life, and how quickly it all comes unraveled as Carol begins to wield her new-found power. The play is an exhilarating ride through Mamet's exploration of the artifice of both academia and the psychological war of the sexes.