BRIGIT SAINT BRIGIT THEATRE CO.
Doubt: A Parable
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Cathy MW Kurz
September 12 - 28
In 1964—with Vatican II in full swing—Sister Aloysius, the disciplined principal of a Catholic grade school in the Bronx suspects Father Flynn, a younger, informal parish priest of “seducing” one of the students. Not trusting the gullible, doddering monsignor in charge, she sets out to expose the priest herself, despite only having circumstantial evidence to support her intuition.
Flynn’s vehement denial pitted against the sister’s unshakeable conviction catches the young, idealistic Sister James and Mrs. Muller, mother of the alleged victim, in the crossfire of a monumental clash of wills.
Will Sister Aloysius prevail? Is Father Flynn guilty? Can Sister James withstand increasing pressure to determine another’s innocence and lose her own in the process? How will Mrs. Muller reconcile her own dilemmas when confronted with Sister Aloysius' determination? And just who is telling the truth?
Directed by Cathy M.W. Kurz, the production boasts an exquisite cast of BSB veterans: Delaney Driscoll, Murphy Scott Wulfgar, Melissa King, and Lisa Israel.
DIVE DEEPER
“Mr. Shanley is on no one's side. It seems safe to say the playwright agrees with Father Flynn when he explains his preference for parables over reality: 'The truth makes for a bad sermon. It tends to be confusing and have no clear conclusion.' But Doubt presents each point of view with reasonableness and eloquence that never seem out of sync with the characters' ecumenical backgrounds.” (NYT).
The Production In choosing to open our 33rd season with John Patrick Shanley's powerfully suspenseful masterwork, Brigit Saint Brigit's actors and director are eagerly exploring the seemingly unshakeable passions, beliefs, and events the playwright presents. Chosen as 2005's Best Play by the Tony and Drama Desk awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize committee, it retains its fiery relevance.
But what we've come to discover too, is that in 2025, one of the themes Doubt probes is more unsettling than ever before—the ground shifting under our feet: the nature of truth, the value of structure and institutions and the fear of being without them, equivocation existing alongside its opposite.
This “quiet” “intelligently measured play . . . sends off emotional stealth charges that go far deeper” even than the apparent events in this thriller.
*Quotes not cited come from Ben Brantley, 4/1/05, NYT.
The Cast
Delaney Driscoll (Sister Aloyisus)
Melissa King (Sister James)
Murphy Wulfgar (Father Flynn)
Lisa Israel (Mrs. Muller)
Artist/Design Team
Cathy MW Kurz (Director)
Eric Griffith (Stage Manager)
Bill VanDeest (Scenic/Lighting Designer)
