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Doubt
A Parable
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Greg Kolack
At Redtwist Theatre
1044 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-728-7529, tickets $22 -$27 - $30
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 72 minutes with no intermission
Through June 8, 2008
“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.”
--- John Patrick Shanley
Fine performances fuel Doubt
John Patrick Shanley’s superb parable Doubt, under Greg Kolack’s tight direction on Anders Jacobson’s appropriate church-like set, is a riveting parable. Redtwist Theatre continues their high production levels with this play. Doubt is a wonderfully constructed drama. I can’t remember a more polished, succinct script than Shanley’s. This is one of the finest plays of the last decade. It is a thought provoking work that still has me thinking about it hours after leaving the theatre.
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Set in a Catholic Parish Grade School in 1964, Doubt finds Sister Aloysius (Jan Ellen Graves in a strong and convincing performance) as the old fashioned disciplinarian principal who rules her school with an iron fist. Her hands-on approach is intimidating as Sister Jones (Devon Candura) finds out. The young nun uses modern methods including kindness and passion to teach the eight graders and Sister Aloysius demands that she “keep an eye out” for any unusual behavior from either her male students or Father Flynn (C. Sean Piereman in a nuanced and effectively shaded turn). Sister Aloysius is “certain” that Father Flynn has crossed the line with inappropriate behavior with at least one boy.
Doubt deals with how we use our personal values and biases to possibly cloud our judgment about people. Does the end justify the means? Just because someone is intuitively certain doesn’t mean the accusation is true. Without proof, doubt should prevail. Or should it?
Sister James tells Sister Aloysius about a boy who seemed disturbed after a private talk in the rectory with Father Flynn. The boy also had liquor on his breathe. From this information, Sister Aloysius is firmly convinced that Father Flynn is a child molester. The play deals with the hint of abuse, character assassination without conclusive proof and the arrogance of a self-righteous, rigid-thinking nun.
Should one take a stand defying authority in the belief that one is ‘certain?’ Also, how does one defend one’s self from unproven accusations? Once events start, it is difficult to stop the effects. When doubt creeps into the mind of all concerned, the cruelty leads uncertainty. But the damage is already done. These moral dilemmas offer rich drama and thought provoking theatre. Smartly, Shanley doesn’t neatly solve the issue. That is one of the show’s strengths. Redtwist’s cast does the piece justice.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
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