The Broadway production of David Manet’s two character drama, Oleanna, achingly addresses human vulnerabilities, and the way institutions attempt to protect us from those vulnerabilities.

The play involves the power struggle between a university professor and one of his female students, who, by accusing him of sexual exploitation, spoils his changes of being accorded tenure. When the play begins, both characters are in a high state of stress. The professor is buying a house and is late for a related appointment; the student is in danger of failing the professor’s class. All of the action takes place in the professor’s office.Each scene is separated by the rise and steady fall of electric blinds, ominously reminiscent of another institution: prison.

The play’s title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th century escapist vision of utopia. It’s an ironic title, to be sure, of a play filled with paradoxes — institutions of high education stultifying and thwarting learning, and students exerting authority over teachers. The play vividly depicts the destruction wrought by that which is meant to protect. In this case, educational institutions and harassment prevention law come under scrutiny.

By the time the final curtain drops, two lives are in ruins. What struck me most as I watched the demolition was that both characters seemed unable to halt the exposure and execution of their own worse self-destructive behaviors — behaviors stimulated by the anxiety provoking situations exposed ruing the opening scene.

Are you and I any different? During stressful times, don’t we often default to their “dark side” displaying those character traits that are usually not on display?  Possibly — However I think we do have a choice — as difficult and hard as it may be. Self awareness and modifying behaviors that have proved not to work for us can be changed. yes, it is hard. So what else is new?