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Arts & Entertainment

When in Doubt, What Do You Do?

"Doubt, a Parable" opened Friday night at the Raven Performing Arts Theater.

"Doubt, A Parable" opened Fri., Jan. 21 at the Raven Performing Arts Theater. The audience filled only about a third of the theater on opening night.

Doubt is part of the Raven Players’ 2010-2011 season that has thus far included RENT, The Sugar Bean Sisters and will offer the Majestic Kid in March.

Written by John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt, A Parable," offers no answers only more doubt.  According to Shanley, “Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and more energy because conviction is a resting place and doubt is infinite—it is a passionate exercise.”

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Doubt ran on Broadway from March 2005 -- July 2006. Shanley won a Pulitzer Prize for the drama and the play is a Tony Award winner. The play, original cast and director and scenic design won numerous other awards.  

 “We like to do at least one meaty piece of the five [in the series] and I was really passionate about Doubt,”said Director Joe Gellura.

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 “I’m strong about the bigger truth," he added.  "This play is a live piece; it’s very organic. There isn’t a line that is wasted; there’s a tie-in later.” 

He mentions that some people have said the play is an indictment of the Catholic Church.

But Gellura points to Shanley’s words: “This play is dedicated to the many orders of Catholic nuns who have devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools, and retirement homes.  Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous?”

Gellura opens the show as a voice in the dark.

 “A parable is a story that teaches an ethical lesson," the voice says.  "We hope you’ll find your own truth and the answer to ‘what do you do when you’re not sure."

Doubt is set in the Bronx in New York in 1964 at the fictional St. Nicholas Catholic Church and school.  The play pits the fears, mistrust and “we must be vigilant” attitude of Sister Aloysius Beauvier, played by Rebecca Allington, against the new ideas and caring compassion of Father Brendan Flynn, played by Peter Warden. 

The impressionable and idealistic Sister James, as depicted by Katie Kelley, is torn between the innuendos planted in her mind by Sister Aloysius and her original trust of Father Flynn.  The play’s final character is Mrs. Muller, whose son, Donald, is the first African-American child in the school.  Sumi Narendran plays the part of Mrs. Muller.

The interrelationships between the characters are driven by doubt and allusion to the suspect behavior of Father Flynn when he meets alone with Donald Mueller in the rectory. 

Sister James is plagued by doubts about whether Flynn is innocent, believing him when they speak, believing Aloysius when in her presence.

Mrs. Muller says her son might be “that way,” implying he may be homosexual, and saying that the child might be at fault if there is a relationship between him and Flynn.

Mrs. Muller’s reaction to Sister Aloysius’ innuendo is to say that “it’s only for six months,” as she launches into a passionate soliloquy about what it’s like to be a person of color during the difficult years surrounding the Civil Rights Movement.

The angst, passion and innuendo is parried between the characters throughout the play until Sister Aloysius speaks her final line: “I have such doubts.”

All four actors were believable in their roles, although it took some minutes before Kelley melded completely into her part.  Both Allington and Narendran were passionately fervent in their roles. 

While admitting friendship with Allington, Hannah Wallstrum, praised her. “We’re friends, and I think Rebecca did a great job.”

When asked about how she felt about the ending, Wallstrum replied, “The play does what it intends to do.”

Susan Horvert, who accompanied Wallstrum laughed at her remark and said, “I liked it a lot.  Doing what’s right and not being sure…I first believed the Father, then thought Sister Aloysius might be right.  I ended up not being sure.”

Wallstrum chimed in, “It’s all about uncertainty.”

In addition to the cast and Gellura, key figures include producer Pamela Skidmore, stage manager and light board operator Jeanne FitzGerald and set designer Rich Desilets.

For the rest of the run, Friday shows will include an cast-audience discussion at the end. The play runs with no intermission.     

The Thurs., Jan. 27 show has a special price of $11 for General Admission.  Performance begins at 8pm; doors open at 7:30pm.

Friday and Saturday shows (Jan. 28 & 29; Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12) begin at 8pm; doors open at 7:30
Adults: $20 advance, $23 door
Seniors: $15 advance, $18 door
Students: $15 advance, $18 door

Sunday shows (Jan. 30 and Feb. 13) begin at 2pm; doors open at 1:30pm
Adults: $20 advance, $23 door
Seniors: $15 advance, $18 door
Students: $15 advance, $18 door

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