Come over to the Rectory and we’ll have some Cool-Aid and Cookies.
The Tony award winning play Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, opened at Stone Soup Theatre on Friday, Feb 14. In 2004, when it opened on Broadway, it was extremely topical, as it dealt with one of the hot issues of the day: the revelations about the historical cover-ups of sexual abuse in the Catholic church. Although not quite as topical today, it is by no means dated because it is well-plotted, has plenty of comic relief, a dramatic arc, layers of conflict while being an excellent character study of a sexual predator and the dynamics of sexual abuse.
The excellent production at Stone Soup Theater did the play justice and with only four characters seemed ideally suited for the small space. Assembling an extremely capable cast, director Maureen Hawkins also used sound effects by Lindsey Mork to great effect. With a small budget and no real need for an elaborate set, the sound design created the atmosphere of a Catholic church with organ music, a garden with birds and of course an ominous crow.
This production did not make the mistake the movie version did, in casting an older priest as Father Flynn, but cast Jaryl Draper, as a young, friendly, very attractive, modern progressive, who is a master at manipulation, seduction and what is now called “grooming”. Initially, the audience has a huge amount of sympathy for him, as he represents an enthusiastic supporter of Vatican II reforms, as opposed to his nemesis, Sister Aloysius, an old-style nun who represents the opponents of Vatican II and rigid traditional Catholic school educational values. In the end, it is Sister Aloyisus who risks everything, defies the authoritarian structure of the church, and does the right thing.
This Sister Aloysius, played superbly by Maureen Miko, has something neither the movie version with Meryl Streep, nor the production at Seattle Rep had, the right ever so slight Irish accent. In the 50’s many of the nuns and priests either grew up in Ireland or came here as children; she spoke exactly like the clergy with that background. Miko delivered a forceful performance and nailed all the comic one-liners with panache.
Supporting roles by Reagan Dickey as the young, idealistic Sister James, whose vulnerability is exploited by Father Flynn, was spot-on. Eva Abram as Mrs. Muller gave a stellar performance as she discussed the moral dilemma she was faced with, as a disenfranchised African American woman, victimized both by racism and domestic violence.
Doubt is a serious, dramatic play, which is not devoid of entertainment value. Anyone who went to Catholic schools in the 50’s will find the opening scenes hilarious.
Doubt. Stone Soup Theatre, 4029 Stone Way, Seattle, WA 98103. Thu-Sat 8 pm; Sun – 4 pm ‘til March 1. www. StoneSoup.org Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets (800) 838-3006 or www. brownpapertickets.com. Stone Soup Box Office @ (206) 633 – 1883.
Doubt
Come over to the Rectory and we’ll have some Cool-aid and Cookies.
The Tony award winning play Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, opened at Stone Soup Theatre on Friday, Feb 14. In 2004, when it opened on Broadway, it was extremely topical, as it dealt with one of the hot issues of the day: the revelations about the historical cover-ups of sexual abuse in the Catholic church. Although not quite as topical today, it is by no means dated because it is well-plotted, has plenty of comic relief, a dramatic arc, layers of conflict while being an excellent character study of a sexual predator and the dynamics of sexual abuse.
The excellent production at Stone Soup Theater did the play justice and with only four characters seemed ideally suited for the small space. Assembling an extremely capable cast, director Maureen Hawkins also used sound effects by Lindsey Mork to great effect. With a small budget and no real need for an elaborate set, the sound design created the atmosphere of a Catholic church with organ music, a garden with birds and of course an ominous crow.
This production did not make the mistake the movie version did in casting an older priest as Father Flynn but cast Jaryl Draper, as a young, very attractive modern progressive who is a master at manipulation, seduction and what is now called “grooming”. Initially, the audience has a huge amount of sympathy for him, as he represents an enthusiastic supporter of Vatican II reforms, as opposed to his nemesis, Sister Aloysius, an old-style nun who represents the opponents of Vatican II and rigid traditional Catholic school education. In the end, it is Sister Aloyisus who risks everything, defies the authoritarian structure of the church, and does the right thing.
This Sister Aloysius, played superbly by Maureen Miko, has something neither the movie version with Meryl Streep, nor the production at Seattle Rep had, the right ever so slight Irish accent. In the 50’s many of the nuns and priests either grew up in Ireland or came here as children; she spoke exactly like the clergy with that background. Miko delivered a forceful performance and nailed all the comic one-liners with panache.
Supporting roles by Reagan Dickey as the young, idealistic Sister James, whose vulnerability is exploited by Father Flynn, was spot-on. Eva Abram as Mrs. Muller gave a stellar performance as she discussed the moral dilemma she was faced with as a disenfranchised African American woman victimized both by racism and domestic violence.
Doubt is a serious powerful play, which is not devoid of entertainment value. Anyone who went to Catholic schools in the 50’s will find the opening scenes hilarious.
Doubt. Stone Soup Theatre 4029 Stone Way, Seattle, WA 98103. Thu-Sat 8 pm; Sun – 4 pm ‘til March 1. www. StoneSoup.orgTickets Brown Paper Tickets (800) 838-3006 www. brownPapertickets.comBrown Paper Tickets. Stone Soup Box Office a (206) 633 – 1883.