Play ‘Doubt’ gives feeling of hopelessness

By ROGER SMITH
Star Beacon

March 19, 2008 09:00 pm

— CLEVELAND — ‘Doubt,’ celebrated because of its controversial theme of inappropriate priest/student relationships, has made its Northeast Ohio debut in the Drury Theatre at The Cleveland Play House at 85th and Euclid Avenue.
This Pulitzer Prize winner delves deeply into the seemingly innocent actions of a priest as he attempted to befriend and protect the only student of color at St. Nicholas School in the Bronx.
Asserting that doubt can be a bond as sustaining as certainty, playwright John Patrick Shanley (author of “Moonstruck”) proceeds to prove his point as Sister Aloysius girded herself with that inner surety and set out to have Father Flynn removed — by hook or by crook — and possibly defrocked because he didn’t do things by the book that she believed outlined the way things should be done.
What Sister Aloysius thought would be Father Flynn’s undoing ultimately resulted in his being promoted to priest-principal at another school. As she bemoaned his even easier access to students, she confessed that she “had doubts”. Far be it from me to wrestle with the Pulitzer Prize Committee, but that last line, with its contrivance, took all the air out of the balloon; some things are more meaningful when left unsaid.
Four outstanding actors spend 1 1/2 hours weaving the tale that attempts to form a common feeling of hopelessness between Sister Aloysius and the audience. Most have played on Broadway or off-Broadway, and their lists of credits are impressive.
“The Parable” part of the title asks us to rethink many issues about which we are not certain: weapons of mass destruction, evolution, AIDS, enough food for the world, a supreme being, and a list that goes on ad infinitum.
Seth Gordon, Cleveland Play House associate artistic firector and ‘Doubt’ director, is quoted as saying this show that is presented in one act is “essentially a two-act play. The first act takes place on the stage and the second act happens in the car on the drive home.”
“Doubt” runs through Sunday at The Cleveland Play House. Tickets can be purchased by phoning the box office at 216-795-7000 or visiting www.clevelandplayhouse.com

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