The other night we were invited to a preview of the play titled, “Doubt” in Nyack, New York.  You hear that title, and immediately ideas begin to swarm your mind as you try to figure out the plot of this story.  With a little research, pre-play, we found out this story is also a movie and surrounds the idea of a Catholic school in the 1960’s.  Off we went on one of those New York winter sub-zero wind chill days to a cozy playhouse in a renovated church of all places.  Seemed like the perfect fit.  The Elmwood Playhouse theater was an intimate setting with approximately 99 seats.  It was a full house and that doesn’t seem to be the end of that as tickets are already sold out for a number of the nights the play will be performed.

Unusual for most plays was the fact that this play didn’t start off with the usual curtain coming up and the characters taking their places.  Instead we were introduced to the time period through the use of a movie.  There were a number of scenes depicting the era politically, culturally, and even fashion wise to help bring the audience back to that time.  After the movie was finished, a priest, by the name of “Father Flynn” played by Jonathan Peck walked into the “pulpit” to give his sermon.  This was the first we see of Father Flynn, a young priest with progressive ideas whose youthful energy will lead him to become the center of the story.  After this we are introduced to the other two main characters, Sister Aloysius and Sister James.  Sister Aloysius is the headmaster or principal of the school and after many years of seeing one too many scandals or negative types of news out there, she has become filled with suspicions and doubt.  Sister James however is new to sisterhood and looks at everything with the “glass half full” perspective. 

Sister Aloysius performed by Robin Peck does a fine job in portraying this jaded nun.  Her reactions are consistent and she almost instills a fear in the audience of even daring to cross her.  This is something the generation of today isn’t used to and it almost seems alien to understand in someway. 

Sister James, played by Annemarie MacSweeney, brings such a cheery attitude you can’t help but smile at her nuances and little habits.  Personally we felt bad for her as she would be persecuted by Sister Aloysius but the contrast in attitudes and personalities had people on the edges of their seats.

Father Flynn played by Jonathan Peck, (no relation to Robin Peck) as we mentioned earlier is that young priest who brings his progressive ideas and basketball to a rather “resistant to change” Sister Aloysius.  His energy is contagious.

Mrs. Muller played by Tracey McAllister, the mother of the boy in question throughout the play, performs her role well with an intensity and at the same time a rather reserved persona.

Michael Edan, the director does a fantastic job in bringing these characters to life.  There is a professionalism that you would expect of a big city production yet the intimate setting is really the perfect spot to help bring about the poingnancy of this parable.