Take four promising writing students, put them in a room with an arrogant, critical, obnoxious teacher, and watch the sparks fly and the egos deflate.

Theresa Rebeck’s smart and sassy “Seminar” is 85 minutes of crackling theatre, filled with sharp language, verbal conflicts, sexual innuendos, sexist attacks, tension and some very funny moments.

Director Pat Hegnauer keeps the play fast paced, with a number of tense scenes that keep you waiting to see who will say what to whom and what will happen next.

Ed Shea plays Leonard, an international literary figure, whose motives and past come into question as the play progresses. Thanks to Shea’s acting talents, you won’t like him very much.

The four students all have different personalities, coming together in one of the best ensemble pieces I have seen in a long time.

Set designer Trevor Elliott has chosen an “in the round” venue that works perfectly as the action goes round and round, highlighting each character.

Kate (Erin Elliott) offers up her rent-controlled NYC apartment for the sessions. She is the first to be challenged by Leonard, with sexism raising its ugly head. Douglas (James Lucey) gets praise that slowly leads to outright disrespect, crushing his weak ego. Izzy (Tania Montenegro) uses sex to win her instructor over.

And then there is Martin (Ara Boghigian), the most interesting and troubled of the four and the only one angry enough to challenge Leonard.

This is one of those plays where you don’t want to reveal too much because things constantly take different turns, characters react in a variety of ways and jealousy, pride, ambition and rage run rampant.

Is Leonard a brilliant teacher or just a bore? Are writers special people? Are alliances as important as inner feelings are released? Or are they just playing a pseudo-intellectual form of “Survivor?”

Whatever you take away from “Seminar,” you will definitely get your money’s worth.

“Seminar” is at 2nd Story’s upstairs theatre, 28 Market St., Warren through February 22. Tickets are $30, $21 for ages 21 and younger. Call 247-4200 for reservations.