Local theatre lead has 'surpassed our expectations' (6 photos)

Tonight is a big night for the local arts community.

It marks the official launch of In Your Eyes Projects (IYE), Sault Ste. Marie's newest theatre company, as it opens its inaugural season with Oleanna.

Written by American playwright, screenwriter, director and Pulitzer Prize-winner David Mamet (The Verdict, The Untouchables, Glengarry Glen Ross, Ronin, Wag the Dog), Oleanna is the story of how a seemingly innocent conversation between a college professor and his student takes an unfortunate turn.

Co-directed by Loretta Durat and Joseph Lauzon, the two-person production stars Brent Vallee as John and Alex Briglio as Carol.

While neither are strangers to the stage, this will be Briglio's first starring role.

"We both have worked with Alex in the past and found her to be an intelligent actor who possessed a strong work ethic, good instincts and a natural delivery," Durat told SooToday. "We were both excited to see what she might achieve given the opportunity to play a lead. She has met that challenge and has surpassed our expectations."

Durat and Lauzon chose to not shy away from the dark and intense subject matter of Oleanna for the launch of IYE because they're both fans of Mamet's work.

"[We] find Oleanna to be an intriguing and challenging show, one that would stretch us as directors, and would provide our actors with strong characters and a situation that would give them ample material to explore," she explained. "We feel that we've chosen a play that engages and entertains an audience while provoking reactions and discussions regarding issues that are important to all of us."

Oleanna opens this evening (October 21) in the W.W. Bladwin Auditorium at The Tech (the former St. Mary's College) located at 130 Wellington Street East.

The public is invited to IYE's launch party at 7 p.m. in The Tech's lounge prior to curtain time.

The show will begin at 8 p.m.

Oleanna runs until Saturday, October 24 with tickets available at the Community Box Office in the Station Mall, online at www.kctc.ca and at the door.

Upcoming productions presented by IYE include Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage February 10 through 13, and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot directed by Richard Howard April 27 through 30.

For more information about In Your Eyes Projects, please click here.