Stage Review - Doubt (A Parable) (Jewel Box)
Stage Review - Doubt: A Parable - 10/20 through 10/29
Presented By: Jewel Box, Poulsbo, WA (Reviewed: Tuesday, October 17, 2023)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman
Fair warning. The latest show at Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo is not something that’s going to make you laugh uncontrollably, or get up in the aisles and dance. It’s not a feel-good, toe-tapping musical, or a show that will let you escape from your emotions for a few hours. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. But don’t let any of this fool you, or stop you from heading to the theatre to experience it. Doubt (A Parable), the second show of the 23/24 season at Jewel Box, runs only two weekends, opening this Friday, October 20, and closing Sunday, October 29. True, Doubt is none of those things I mentioned earlier, but it doesn’t have to be, and that’s because it relies on something different for its success. It’s frankly the most emotional and passionate show I’ve seen on stage this season so far. Directed by Eric Spencer, Doubt packs enough punch in the tiny Jewel Box space that it can barely be contained there. There are some chuckle worthy moments, but Doubt’s currency is its emotion, and this production will have you gasping, cringing, and could even have you reaching for the tissues before the night is out.
It all starts with John Patrick Shanley’s script, which is extremely well written, the original Broadway production winning both a Pulitzer Prize and Tony for Best Play in 2005. Doubt is a piece about reflection, about trusting (or doubting) yourself, and about the impact a ripple from one word or action can have. Set in the context of the Catholic Church and the ongoing allegations of a long history of misconduct, Doubt tells the story of Sister Aloysius, Principal of the St. Nicholas school in the Bronx, the priest at the church Father Brendan Flynn, Sister James, a young teacher at the school, and Mrs. Muller, mother of the first black student at St. Nicholas. The play begins with a sermon from Father Flynn, about doubt, how it can “be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty”. The idea of doubt is woven through this play like a fine quilt. Sister Aloysius has concerns, unsubstantiated, about Father Flynn’s relationship with a young boy. She expresses these concerns with the more naïve Sister James, attempts to glean information from the boy’s mother, and eventually confronts Father Flynn himself. While the general plot seems straightforward, it’s the subplots that are at the heart of this play. Doubt does a deep dive into personal reflection, intention and motivation, and at the same time dissects the structure and hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Doubt is a layered play, and when it’s done right it hits a a lot of nerves, and this production does it right.
Sister Aloysius is played by Rana Tan. Rana carries most of the dialogue here, and she does so expertly, with confidence, and with all of the emotion the role requires. Rana’s Aloysius is stern and conservative when it comes to the rules of the church and the school, but it’s clear that she has the best interest of the children at heart, regardless of some of her more traditional ways. Rana nails this role. Her foil here is Father Flynn, the more progressive of the pair when it comes to church traditions and politics. Flynn is played by Raymond Deuel, seen most recently in Sleuth at Bremerton Community Theatre (BCT). Raymond, as he did in Sleuth, proves he’s got a knack for understanding what is at stake for his character and portraying him as such. His talent with accents is on full display here as well, a prime example being his second act sermon, when he bounces from American to Irish and back again without missing a beat. I’ve been critical of other shows that call for an emotional portrayal of a role, and when, in those particular shows, I can feel the actor or actors holding something back. None of that here. Rana and Raymond leave is all out on the stage in a masterclass of emotional passion and intensity. Their scenes in Act 2 together raise the level of the entire play.
Ashley Corbaley is Sister James, younger and more naïve in ways of the church than Aloysius, and mostly caught in the middle between her superior and Father Flynn. I like Ashley’s performance a lot, she shows the conflict that her character has below the surface, her own self-doubt, and the lack of confidence in her thoughts and her actions, which is contrary to Rana’s portrayal of a more confident and experienced school principal. Their scenes together have as much emotion as the ones with Rana and Raymond, but theirs are softer and just as good. Rounding out the cast is Vanessa Acierto, as Mrs. Muller, mother to the student at the heart of the controversy with Flynn. Vanessa’s performance begins a little slower, but builds quite nicely. It’s a smaller role than the others, but Mrs. Muller is a key character here and it’s handled very well by Vanessa.
Creatively, I was curious when I saw that Rana is also the set designer. I’ve been familiar with her work at BCT, but their stage is quite bigger than the one at Jewel Box. In the end, I shouldn’t have questioned it at all, because this set is perhaps the best work I’ve seen in this theatre. It’s a split stage, half church, half school principal’s office, and partly outdoor garden, it’s exquisite. David Ward’s lighting is used nicely to keep focus on the right area of the stage and to contrast the inside of a church with the outdoor garden scape. Rana is also responsible for costuming and sound design, and each of those are excellent here as well. This is a show that hits all of its marks, creatively and on stage.
Doubt (A Parable) at Jewel Box is not something you should see because it will make you feel good. Rather, it’s something you should see because it doesn’t. It’s the kind of play that is short (about 90 minutes, including intermission), but will continue after the curtain drops on the ride home or at dinner. It’s a play that is extremely well written and a production that is superbly performed. For me, it’s an early season favorite, and I have no “doubt” that it will be for anyone who sees it.
Doubt (A Parable) runs on stage at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo, WA through October 29. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org/.
