By Erin Randolph erin@dmcityview.com

David Mamet is a language playwright. His work is challenging in that the language of his plays attempts to mimic the way people talk. That, of course, means a lot of interrupted thoughts, multiple meanings and of rhythmically profane language.

This was demonstrated with "Glengarry Glen Ross," a Pulitzer Prize-winning play recently staged at the Vaudeville Mews. And it will be demonstrated yet again, as the Mews tackles repertory productions of Mamet's "Oleanna" and "American Buffalo." Performances begin Oct. 28 and continue through Nov. 4.

"There's a lot of pauses in the language, a lot of nice work for the actor to do because Mamet leaves a lot of work for the director and actor to discover," says Ann Wilkinson, director of "Oleanna." "Oleanna" tackles the subject of sexual harassment, as a student accuses her professor of inappropriate behavior after she approaches him to reconsider her grade.

"I'd say the play is about miscommunication and the misuse of power," Wilkinson says. "The teacher who really loves to teach and the student who really loves to learn, and they just can't find a way to connect."

And in true Mamet fashion, "American Buffalo" espouses what happens to friendship when money is brought into the equation. In the play, two friends discover that a third has a valuable coin collection. They decide to break into his house to steal, and ultimately sell, the coins. However, their ploy goes humorously awry.

And as with all Mamet plays, "American Buffalo," like "Oleanna," is for mature audiences.

"This is not exactly family entertainment, unless you're the Osbourne family. I don't want people bringing their 8-year-olds thinking it's about the American bison," says Richard Maynard, director of the play. "He really does focus on human relationships and what happens to those relationships when money is injected into it. I would put Mamet in the top among contemporary playwrights."

Stage notes

Tickets for the Civic Center's six-week run of Disney's "The Lion King" go on sale Saturday at 7 a.m. at the Civic Center ticket office only, and through Ticketmaster outlets starting at 10 a.m. Tickets range from $25 to $127.50 for VIP packages which include premium seating and show merchandise. Performances begin March 3... "Master Class," a play in which a Juilliard opera instructor recalls her career and her personal life, celebrating the sacrifices that people make in the name of their art, opens at the Des Moines Playhouse Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 13 with performances Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets are $23-$25 for adults. In other playhouse news, tickets are now on sale for performances of "There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom," to be staged Nov. 18 through Dec. 4. Tickets are $12-$16 and can be purchased through the Playhouse box office, by phone at 277-6261 and online at www.dmplayhouse.com... "Reruns - Live" is taking a break from performances in December, but before that, it's amped up its offerings with performances at the Prairie Creek Playhouse at Prairie Lodge Restaurant in Prairie City Nov. 3 through 6. For $20, audiences can enjoy a buffet and sit back and watch tributes to "I Love Lucy," "The Honeymooners" and "Abbott and Costello." This will be in addition to Nov. 1 and 15 performances at the Vaudeville Mews, when "The Honeymooners" and "Get Smart" tributes will be staged. CV

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