Doubt: A Parable

The cast of the original New York production of Doubt said the second act of the play was the discussion among audience members on their way home. As in David Mamet's Oleanna, two forceful characters are here pitted against each other, with viewers challenged to pick a side.

The trouble with John Patrick Shanley's witty, broad-brushstrokes play is that its small-scale drama is to some extent overwhelmed by a bigger picture of horrifying true-life events, and that a crisis of faith is only meaty dramatic material if more is at stake than an individual's vocation.

The setting is 1964, and a school in the Bronx run by the formidable Sister Aloysius, a nun who operates a strict a biro ban and harbours a strong suspicion of men with dirty fingernails. When the innocent Sister James highlights an incident of concern involving local priest Father Flynn, Aloysius sets out to bring him down.

It's easy to see why Meryl Streep was attracted to the mother superior role, and here Alison Peebles is captivating as she manipulates and condemns with the kind of certainty that arguably comes with the territory. Sally Reid once against demonstrates her extraordinary subtlety as an actress in a not-particularly-subtle role, with flickers of uncertainty dancing across her face as she attempts in vain to halt the runaway train she has set in motion.

The weak link here is Keith Fleming as Father Flynn. This ambiguous character is a maverick who weaves his dealings with the nuns into scolding sermons, but it is difficult (from the perspective of a cynical non-believer, at least) to understand what innocent motivation he may have had for becoming a priest.

Most of the audience is likely to have already considered Doubt's central issues, and the guilt or innocence of this particular character is perhaps unlikely to inspire animated post-show discussion. However, this is certainly a beautifully constructed and entertaining piece of theatre, expertly directed by Mary McCluskey against a set by Kenny Miller that perfectly evokes the idea of shining a light onto a dark secret.