John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play “Doubt” opens this weekend in the USU Eastern Geary Theatre. The play runs two-consecutive weekends with curtain at 7:30 p.m. Theatre department chair Corey Ewan Ph.D. directs the play and Brent Innes designed the set.
In this brilliant and powerful drama, Sister Aloysius, a Bronx school principal, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students. “Doubt” was made into a major motion picture starring Meryl Streep, the late Philip Seymour Hoffmann, Viola Davis and Amy Adams, all of who were nominated for the academy award.
“We have a strong cast of seasoned performers, I am looking forward to seeing what they will bring to their respective roles,” Ewan said. “This cast has caught the vision and have demonstrated a maturity of performance that has been exciting to be a part of. I am very pleased with the outcome and the production.”
Ewan cast two sophomores to the leading roles: Annie Zelasko from Olympus High School is playing Sister Aloysius and Carbon High School graduate Josh Bone is taking on the role of Father Flynn.
Two freshmen will act in supporting roles of Sister James and Mrs. Muller: Olivia (Libby) Pietereit from Juan Diego High School and Lesly Gaona-Partida from Pine View High School.
Zelasko says “Doubt” will entice the audience with the raw emotion from all ends of the spectrum, from frustration and sorrow to joy and confusion.
Bone likes the play because of its entertainment value and its intensity.
Gaona-Patrida quotes Father Flynn, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” She continues from Mrs. Muller’s lines, “You can’t hold a child responsible for what God gave him to be.” She finishes with, “Whether you think he’s guilty or not, it will make you doubt yourself.”
Stage manager Josie Slade believes people should see the play because it is an eye opening one act play that forces us to feel and ultimately question what we believe and we have seen.
“Doubt” runs Feb. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. Seating is limited because the production and seating is on the stage of the theatre. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for USU Eastern faculty and staff and non-USU Eastern students.