DOUBT at TheatreWorks
Pictured: l-r Sister Aloysius (Kimberly King) and
Father Flynn (Cassidy Brown) in
TheatreWorks production of DOUBT.
Photo by David Allen
DOUBT, A PARABLE by John Patrick Shanley; directed by Vickie Rozell and Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California. 650-903-6000 or visit www.theatreworks.org. July 16-
Running time: 90 Minutes with NO intermission.
IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT “IS HE OR ISN’T HE?”
John Patrick Shanley’s DOUBT won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and 4 Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Direction (Doug Hughes), Best Actress (Cherry Jones) and Best Featured Actress (Adriane Lenox). The touring company brought DOUBT to
The time is 1964 and the place is a Bronx Catholic school run by an old fashion, iron fisted nun, Sister Aloysius who in her mind has no doubt, but no proof, that Father Flynn has had “unnatural” relationship with a 12 year who is the only black boy in the school. We never see the child but after his mother, Mrs. Muller, arrives to be interviewed by Sister Aloysius, he is an integral part of the equation.
Father Flynn is a young charismatic person who feels that parables are preferable to truth. “The truth makes for a bad sermon.” He is attempting to bring the Church to the people which further alienates Sister Aloysius. Author Shanley constructs the play with personalized monologs/sermons for Father Flynn and verbal confrontations with Sister Aloysius with each defending their positions.
Sister James is a novice nun with an enthusiastic love of teaching and an overwhelming compassion for her students. Sister Aloysius, in an ugly heart-rending scene, denigrates her enthusiasm destroying her self-confidence as she agrees to spy on Father Flynn. She brings the one piece of information that removes any doubt from Sister Aloysius’s deep convictions of Father Flynn’s guilt.
Sister Aloysius unsuccessfully recruits Mrs. Muller, the boy’s mother, in an attempt to gain further confirmation of the boy’s relationship with Father Flynn. Sister Aloysius meets her match with Mrs. Muller who insists that Father Flynn is the only man to show kindness to her son who is in great need of kindness. “What makes you think we are on the same side?” This brief encounter near the end of the play adds a great deal of depth to both characters, however, you end up cheering for Mrs. Muller. Tamiyka White dominates that scene as she wins the verbal duel but is unable to assuage close minded Sister Aloysius.
Sister Aloysius uses a lie to unhinge Father Flynn when she asks why he, being so young, has he been transferred to five different school parishes? After that final confrontation, his transfer, with promotion, to another parish school is strong damnation on the Church’s method of hiding the insidious problem. Kimberly King’s depiction of Sister Aloysius is strong and unbending from the minute she takes the stage. Her rigid back, and crossed arms dares you disagree and she maintains this demeanor through to the last line. That last line is a cop-out and must be attributed to the directors. Her choked voice, almost in tears, acknowledging her lies, as she blurts, “I have doubts” is the only chink in her armor.
Shanley who won an Academy Award for his original screenplay of “Moonstruck” is a master of dialog. He has built in a great deal of humor to break up the intensity of the drama and Father Flynn’s sermon parables would make going to church fun. Cassidy Brown creates an extremely likable Father Flynn and his breakdown, when forced to face past transgressions, extends beyond the footlights. With his charisma, the question of is he or isn’t becomes moot.
Deft direction by Vickie Rozell and Robert Kelley keeps the action moving fluidly on Tom Langguth’s marvelous set on revolving platforms of the parish courtyard, Sister Aloysius’s spare office and a magnificent backdrop with stained-glass windows for Father Flynn’s sermons. This production of DOUBT is a complete package not to be missed.
Courtesy of TheatreWorld Internet Magazine.