Doubt, A Parable by John Patrick Shanley

June 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2009

Sara Anders as Sister James, Gary Hokit as Father Flynn

Kristin Frost as Sister Aloysius, and Wendy Corley as Mrs. Muller

(photo by D Bowers)

Doubt is about what happens when a person believes that suspicion is just as good a motive for action as certainty is, if the stakes are high enough.

           Sister Aloysius--an old-school nun, the principal of a Catholic school who believes that discipline is more important than compassion in the care of students--begins to suspect an inappropriate relationship between a priest, Father Flynn, and a young student.  Her suspicion is fueled by her dislike of Father Flynn's modern thinking and informal demeanor, and by fragments of a situation that she can only interpret in one way.  Convinced of his guilt, even though she has no proof whatsoever, she is determined that he must be exposed even if it means damage to the boy.  Dragged into the tragedy are the boy’s mother, who can see only the good aspects of the priest’s friendship with her son, and a young nun whose passion for teaching and her friendship for the priest are being slowly extinguished by the older nun’s rigidity. In the end, there are no answers, only doubt. 

photos by Joyce Corley

Our thanks to Community Options, Inc.

also: Bill Bottomly, Mark Smith, Karen Arnold, and Joyce Corley