The Roundabout Theatre Company Presents “Doubt: A Parable”

On Wednesday, March 6, the Roundabout Theatre Company presented the first revival of John Patrick Shanley’s play, Doubt: A Parable. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production asks questions about what’s fact versus fiction and who should be believed.

In the play, Sister Aloysius (Amy Ryan) works as the strict principal of a Catholic school in a middle-class neighborhood in the Bronx. She expects that an odd relationship persists between a charming priest named Father Flynn (Liev Schreiber) and a student. This causes her to reevaluate her beliefs, including that of the Catholic church’s rules.

The play begins with Father Flynn giving a sermon about doubts in church. He breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the audience. Within his speech, he discusses former President John F. Kennedy’s assassination as though it were recent history, which sets the play in the 1960s.

The second scene occurs in Sister Aloysius’ office where a teacher named Sister James asks her about a boy who had to be sent home from school. Sister Aloysius blames the child’s injury on a ballpoint pen. She dislikes those writing utensils and prefers fountain pens. She asks Sister James about other children in her class and gives Sister James feedback on her teaching performance.

Also during the meeting, Sister Aloysius inquires about the meaning of Father Flynn’s sermon. Specifically, she asks Sister James if anyone at the parish has doubts. Sister James says to ask Father Flynn himself.

In the third scene, Father Flynn gives a speech to the audience, who are supposed to be a group of boys in gym class.  He discusses how to develop a technique for free throws.

The fourth scene happens in the garden outside of Sister Aloysius’ office. This scene also sets the plot in motion. Sister Aloysius sits in a garden on a bench and Sister James enters. Sister Aloysius asks about the whereabouts of Sister James’ class. Sister James replies that the girls are attending a music class while the boys are in the Rectory, listening to Father Flynn’s lecture on how to be a man. Eventually, Sister Aloysius asks about one of Sister James’ students, named Donald Muller.

Sister James replied that Donald Muller did not have friends and did not fit in well. She said that Father Flynn protected the student. Based on Sister James’ account, Sister Aloysius believed that Father Flynn and Donald Muller started an inappropriate relationship. She planned to get Father Flynn removed from the parish, despite Sister James’ wishes to not get involved.

David Rockwell created beautiful set pieces for the show’s four settings: a church, Sister Aloysius’ office, a garden, and lockers for the gym. The church had stained glass windows, which dropped from the stage’s roof. Sister Aloysius’ office featured a desk, bookcase, chairs, and windows that looked out at the garden. The garden contained a bench, brick walls, and a gate. The set pieces spun to transition between scenes.

Linda Cho designed costumes for the nuns and the priest. Kenneth Posner coordinated the lighting. Mikaal Sulaiman handled the sounds.

The show opened on Thursday, March 7 at the Todd Haimes Theatre. The production occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights at 7:00 PM; Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 2:00 PM; Saturday nights at 8:00 PM; and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM. The show will close on Sunday, April 14. Get your tickets here!