'Doubt' at Victorian Players

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Victorian Players Theater will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Doubt, a Parable.” The drama, written by John Patrick Shanley, opens Friday and runs for nine performances over three consecutive weekends.

Directed by Christopher Fidram, the cast includes John Cox as Father Flynn, Denise Sculli as Sister Aloysius, Joanna Andrei as Sister James and Shba Cochrane as Mrs. Miller. Assistant director is Tricia Terlesky, stage manager is Susi Thompson, and costume design is by Marlene Menaldi Strollo.

“Doubt” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, April 24 and 25, and May 1 and 2; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26 and May 3.

Tickets are $12 ($9 for senior citizens and students) and group rates are available. For reservations, call 330-746-5455. The theater is at 702 Mahoning Ave.

The play is about the suspicion of sexual abuse of a child and is intended for mature audiences.

It is set in 1964 at St. Nicholas Church and School in New York. A vibrant, charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the school’s strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius, the iron-gloved principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline.

The winds of political change are sweeping through the community and, indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Muller.

But sweet-natured Sister James begins to have suspicions about Father Flynn’s relationship with Donald. The two seem to share a bond that goes beyond traditional priest-student pleasantries.

She brings her doubts to Sister Aloysius, who would be devastated about the possible abuse of one of her students if she wasn’t so glad to finally have confirmation about the hidden evil in her nemesis.

Of course, there is no solid proof that Father Flynn is involved in any wrongdoing. Or any proof that he isn’t.

Is Sister Aloysius overreacting to the situation, or is there truth behind her convictions? These are the questions that are raised.