Production: Doubt: A Parable

Company: Arts Club Theatre Company

Writer: John Patrick Shanley

Director: Rachel Ditor

Actors: Sasa Brown, Michele Lonsdale Smith, Gabrielle Rose, and Jonathon Young.

Theatre: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

Run: Sept. 17 – Oct. 12, 2008

Reviewed by: Taryn Hubbard (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada)

The Arts Club Theatre Company opened its 45^th season with John Patrick Shanley's Doubt. As the name suggests, Doubt is a story of uncertainty, distrust, and gossip.

The stage was lined with stained-glass windows of saints set in cold, red brick walls. Sister Aloysius, the principal of St. Nicholas School and Church, suspects Father Flynn's relationship with a new African-American boy—the only kid of colour in the school—is less than holy. But lacking any concrete proof of misconduct, she is left to commiserate with Sister James, which results in gossip. 

Shanley writes of gender struggles, race perceptions, sexuality, and the growing pains of a church moving into progressive times. The play has no intermission, leaving the audience immersed in the kind of gossip that could get people fired for the entire 90 minutes of the production.

The evocative writing of Shanley is enhanced by Rachel Ditor's direction. Her choice in blocking was straight forward and blunt, contrasting the themes of ambiguity in the play. Since the script has a nice balance of humour and tension, Ditor was not afraid to let silence fill the theatre at just the right moments.

Doubt is brought to life by four strong actors. Gabrielle Rose's performance of Aloysius was engaging, with her wonderful quirks and mannerisms conveying the strict nature of the nun. The innocence of Sister James was emphasized by the shaky nervousness of Sasa Brown and Michele Lonsdale Smith as Mrs. Muller, the boy's mother, was true to the character of a mother who just wanted her son to make it through school. Jonathon Young as Father Flynn was successful at leaving the audience wondering if he's guilty of Sister Aloysius' allegations. Young's portrayal of the nice-guy and the threatening-authority figure was seamless—making it even harder for the audience to get a concrete opinion on his actions with the boy. The cast as a whole had great chemistry—especially Rose and Brown as they gossiped in Aloysius' office.

Doubt by John Patrick Shanley is playing at the Arts Club Theatre Company now until Oct. 12, 2008.