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Regional Reviews: Raleigh/Durham Doubt, A Parable
John Patrick Shanley delves into profound moral questions through the lens of one of history's most enduring institutions, the Catholic Church. Set in 1964, a period of great cultural and religious upheaval, the play reflects a world in transition. The story takes place at St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx. Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Rebecca Blum), the strict and conservative principal, bullies the younger Sister James (Emily Levinstone) to spy on a well-liked and progressive parish priest, Father Flynn (Kevin Varner). Her suspicions about his relationship with a pupil, the school's first African American student, drive the conflict. Sister Aloysius believes the Father may have engaged in inappropriate conduct, setting off a tense struggle between certainty and doubt. The boy's mother, Mrs. Muller (Terri Crymes), complicates the situation by expressing her support for Flynn and suggesting that her son may have his own reasons for the bond. The play leaves the audience with lingering uncertainty, unsure of Flynn's guilt or innocence and questioning the nature of doubt itself. Doubt not only won the 2005 Pulitzer for Drama but also the Tony Award for Best Play. In 2008, it was adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, with multiple Oscar nominations. Like the parables associated with Jesus in the Bible, the play's title and structure relate to a simple story with a moral lesson. It emphasizes the exploration of doubt as a complex and common human experience. Sean A. Brosnahan has followed up his recent direction of Raleigh Little Theatre's Misery with this amazing piece of theatre. Sonya Leigh Drum's scenic design is simplistic (yet highly symbolic) for this theatre-in-the-round space. A large platform in the shape of a wooden cross upholds the tension of the four amazing actors. Joel Soren's lighting design harkens the dark corridors and stained-glass windows frequently associated with churches: dim and distorted (as are some of the characters' perspectives in the play). Costumes by Sonya Leigh Drum and sound/music by Alex Thompson add to the realism of the parable. The heart of the piece lies in the performances of the four actors on the stage. Rebecca Blum's fiercely tenacious Sister Aloysius rivals Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Emily Levinstone, as Sister James, had this reviewer moved to tears and immediate applause after a moment of confrontation with her superior. Mrs. Muller has but one scene in the play, yet Terri Crymes makes it a triumph, as this mother who just wants what is best for her son. And last, and certainly not least, Kevin Varner provides a heartfelt and sympathetic portrayal of Father Flynn, a man who embraces the humanity in himself and all who surround him. In a pivotal sermon, Father Flynn speaks to the power of doubt, claiming it can be as unifying as certainty. The play challenges the audience to wrestle with the uncertainties surrounding faith, morality, and human nature. Mr. Shanley encourages viewers to focus more on the experience of doubt versus what we actually think happened. Raleigh Little Theatre's Jack Hall Scholar, Emma Clements, states "At its core, Doubt, A Parable, is about what it means to allow ourselves to live in the gray spaces of live. What do we lose when we focus on arbitrating absolutes? Which are more defining: our actions or our beliefs? How can we be sure of anything when things are changing all around us?" In this age of misinformation and multiple perspectives, may we welcome questions and discussion and, at times, doubt. Doubt, A Parable runs through November 3, 2024, at Raleigh Little Theatre, Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh NC. For tickets and information, please visit www.raleighlittletheatre.org or call 919-821-3111. Playwright: John Patrick Shanley Cast: (in order of appearance) |
