Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
#0Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:24pm
This Pulitzer and Tony Award play is a masterpiece. It will make you have "doubts", hehe. Excellent acting by Eileen Atkins, Ron Eldard and Adriane Lenox. Excellence can be found in a play. It is a must-see if you haven't seen this play before or if you missed this new cast. Really great. I don't know if there is a previous thread about this. But do you all think he was innocent or guilty?
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#2re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:27pmI think he was innocent, no proof of him doing anything really. I just saw Ron playing this role, but he really made me think he is a concerned man who just wanted to help, not a pervert.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#3re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:00pm
I saw it for the first time a few weeks ago, and I loved it. I assumed that I would leave thinking he was guilty, but I changed my mind fairly early in the play. I got the impression that he (and Sister James for that matter) just had a different idea of how they should offer guidance to the students. Sister Aloysius struck me as a bit paranoid and unwilling to consider their differing philosophies about education. Although, if I remember correctly, I think she told Sister James and the boy's mother that they chose to believe Father Flynn was innocent because that was easier and made them feel better. I think those statements made me doubt his innocence more than anything we actually saw him do or say. So, I'm leaning toward innocent, but I have my doubts of course. 
teebz
Featured Actor Joined: 5/1/06
#4re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:04pmI saw Brian in this role and I definitley think he was guilty.
#5re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:11pm
I haven't had the opportunity to see the play, living in Chicago, so I will definitely see the tour which I think will be coming here next year.
I have read the play though, and loved it. Obviously, it was written so that it would be ambiguous, and since, you know, it's a PLAY, no one was actually molested, lol. I think that if performed right, you wouldn't know the answer. Reading reviews of the new cast, it seemed that most critics agreed that Ron Eldard was too "guilty," thus eliminating much, um, doubt.
#6re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:12pmI keep flipping back and forth. But one thought I had is that he may have been guilty in the past and is really a caring person who was just trying to help. I think that at the point in time "Doubt" takes place, he is trying not to do "those things". But I think he is finding difficult. I also thought about the year it is set in and how it has taken some people so long to come forth about being molested by priests. So he may have been released from a former position and things were just kept hush hush.
Just give the world Love.
ZONEACE
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#7re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:17pm
I wasn't too impressed with the show. And it was more than just the casting. Eileen and Adrienne were both great. I wasn't excessibely impressed with Ron, he seemed a little flat, but it could have been an off night, and well, Jena, um, she's just not great on stage. I love her on film, but between her floating accent and lack of projection (i was in the second row and sometimes had trouble) it wasn't a great performance. The writing also left me a bit underwhelmed. It didn't live up to all the talk.
as for the guilt/innocence. He was clearly guilty of something, but I don't believe he was guilty of what the nuns thought him guilty of.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
#8re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:20pm
I thought it was amazing. Jena was great, maybe was the weakest performer, but next to those 3 actors, it is not a bad thing. Zone what show/play did you actually like?
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Updated On: 6/24/06 at 04:20 PM
#9re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:25pmI saw the show twice, once Off-Broadway, and once On. Same cast, but each time I walked away with a different take. According to interviews with the cast and playwright only Brian and the playwright actually knew the answer as to his guilt. Cherry and Brian would tug at each others performance to try and sway the audience one way or the other. Truly remarkable work on everyones part! It will be missed here in NYC. Maybe a film? If so, who would star...?
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
#10re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:39pm
When I read the play, I would swear on my life he was innocent.
When I saw the play, I was happy I didn't swear on anything, because I'd be dead.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
#11re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:41pm
I also, like Zone, was totally underwhemled by the whole thing. It didn't do everything it could have with such great material. It made me even more upset that Billy Cruddup and The Pillowman didn't win. :P
But I as well, thought he was guilty, if not of molestation, than of losing faith in the church, or misusing it.
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
#12re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:53pm
As much as I enjoyed Doubt, I preferred The Pillowman. I keep forgetting that it lost.
I almost wish I could see Doubt again, though, since I seem to be one of a few who thought the character might be innocent. I'm starting to feel kind of crazy.
#13re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:16pmI also preferred The Pillowman to Doubt (always have to chime in when this topic comes up!). I only saw Doubt once, and while I was on the fence, I kind of thought Flynn was innocent as well, Jenny. Now I'm kind of wishing I'd gone back to see it again with the replacement cast to see how I felt about it all with their take on the roles...oh well.
But when did New Hampshire become--Such a backward wasteland of seatbelt hating crazies?...I mean, only 40 people actually live there. The others are just visitors who come for the tax-free liquor and three inches of novelty coastline. John Hodgeman on The Daily Show (1-30-07)
#14re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:23pmI thought Brian was guilty and Ron was innocent...
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
ZONEACE
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#15re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:29pm
"Zone what show/play did you actually like?"
well of the 10 shows i saw during hte week before and week after the tonys i liked, Awake & Sing (definately the best show i saw of the 10), Stuff Happens, History Boys, those 3 (of 5 I saw) plays i loved. Inishmore was enjoyable, but definately I didn't love it as much as most people I've spoken to or seen respond to it, and Doubt was the 5th and i wasn't, impressed. Of the musicals, I loved Sweeney (although i had already seen it but early in previes so it was quite diferent), Avenue Q was quite fun and enjoyable, but didn't deserve Best Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was funny but a little flat (and Norbie for some reason had trouble not breaking character as he did so on several occasions), The Wedding Singer was tedious and dreary, but had several good performances and a couple of fun numbers, and well, Threepenny was an absolute mess.
so of the 10 i saw, i liked Awake & Sing, History Boys, Stuff Happens, Avenue Q, Sweeney, and DRS.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
#16re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:35pmI also preferred The Pillowman over Doubt.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
#17re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:57pmDidn't Shanley tell the actors who played the Father whether or not Father was innocent or guilty?
Madhatter
Understudy Joined: 1/11/06
#18re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 6:03pmI saw it back in March and thought that at another school he did something bad that got him fired or transfered but durring the play I don't think he did anything.
#19re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 6:06pmtheonlyone -- I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I meant the Playwright being Shanley did tell the Father being Brian, whether or not he was guilty. Brian did tell Cherry the truth after they left the run. We will never know...
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#20re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 9:16pmI wonder if her knowledge of the truth will affect her touring performance this year through next?
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#21re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 9:52pmBump to get rid of the porn spam on page 1.
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
ocean
Swing Joined: 9/17/05
#22re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 10:26pm
"I wonder if her knowledge of the truth will affect her touring performance this year through next?"
If you read the end of this interview they didn't tell her because of the upcoming tour
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/8044
Updated On: 6/24/06 at 10:26 PM
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#23re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 10:31pmOh, good...I *really* hope I can meet her in April when it comes to town..she seems like such an interesting person to speak with.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#24re: Doubt, Final Weeks. *Spoilers*
Posted: 6/24/06 at 10:31pmSorry, meant to say Brian was "going" to tell her after her run finishes. Got my syntax wrong!
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
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