Last night I saw DOUBT at People's Light and Theatre in Malvern, PA., with a group of friends. Having experienced the riveting production on Broadway with Cherry Jones, I wondered if this local production would measure up. Let me tell you, I was on the edge of my chair for the entire 80 minutes. The acting by the ensemble of four was terrific, and there were things I caught that I hadn't remembered from the first time: for one, that Sister Aloysius, the principal of St. Nicholas' School, had been married before; her husband had died in WWII on the Italian Front, fighting Adolf Hitler.
The parallel is obvious: Sister Aloysius fights what she suspects is evil in her school. She is not "popular" with the student body; she believes in toughness and discipline and prizes truth above love and harmony. She goes forward solely on the strength of her experience and convictions. I couldn't help but wonder -- if more people had the courage to speak up when they suspected evil of a popular character (be it Father Flynn, Adolf Hitler, Bernie Madoff or Stalin,) if more of us were less concerned with offending others and being popular -- I wonder if more of the world's evil could be nipped in the bud, or diverted.
So glad you liked the play. I read not-so-good things about it in the paper. I love your review and your analogy. Oh, and I remember the point in the movie at which we learn the sister had been married. That was so skillfully woven into the story... and it changes everything, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteYes, I heard the review was not great in the Inquirer, which mystifies me. But all criticism is subjective, no?
ReplyDeleteDebra, I really want to see another production of the play, or the movie, because I would like to puzzle over it some more. I could imagine studying it in a college English class. I can't separate the play from my Catholic upbringing, as I found out very early when I had to restrain myself from making the sign of the cross when Father Flynn said, "In the name of the father..." Issues of doubt and certainty pervade Catholic education, usually doubting oneself, especially one's instincts, and being certain about Church doctrine. So I am still in doubt about what is real and not in the play. Would love to discuss more--or maybe have a movie night?
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