DOUBT (6/11 Sat. Matinee) Review

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:27am

Wound up succeeding in getting a ticket to DOUBT (finally) so I skipped STREETCAR and saw this instead.

Full cast in.

While there is superb direction being shown through stunning performances, the play seemed to fall short for the hype and praise it has been getting. The dialogue is precise, almost mechanical, allowing each cast member to find the simple beauty and elegance or the simple LACK of beauty and elegance in Shanley's language. Jones and O'Byrne are masters at their craft, one deservedly earning a Tony, another deservedly earning a nomination after last year's win for 'FROZEN'. However, I felt that much of the scenes seemed to fall short of the power that could have been. I felt that the first hour of the play was searching for the drive behind the conflict of whether or not O'Byrne's character actually DID abuse the altar boys. When an argument finally erupted, it felt as if it had taken too long and I had simply watched a show that had TALKED about an argument instead of actually allowing it to happen.

Many have had reservations about Lennox's Tony win for her ten short minutes on stage. Let me tell you, they aren't short. Her performance is quite stunning and extremely deserving. When first reading the script, her character's reaction to the possibility of her son being sexually abused by the priest seemed shocking to me. However, her delivery was so moving and so real that I found myself crying in my seat, finally actually FEELING something for one of the characters: both Sisters and the priest left me feeling nothing for their characters because they seemed so far from the common man. I found myself VERY unable to connect with the clergy characters instead of actually being able to look at them and understand what they were experiencing. Mrs. Muller - Lennox's character - however, left me stunned and sobbing. (She received an entrance applause... But only because I decided to start one to honor her recent Tony win.)

Set and lighting are all stunning and very suitable to the production. Most enjoyable was the small details in the officer of the principal - Sister Alouysis (Jones' character). A loudspeaker, clocks, etc, etc. Everything very fitting to the time period and type of office. At the end of each scene, a sharp, industrial light shone on the action and died out, leaving a very haunting, chilling moment. With them, came a shocking sound effect - loud and startling each time until it eventually became expected.

Stage dooring: Met Goldenhersh, Lennox and O'Byrne but after a half an hour and what the stage manager said would be another twenty minutes for Jones to come out, I headed to Penn Station to catch my train. Goldenhersh, Lennox and O'Byrne were all incredibly gracious and stayed for a while talking with myself and the others at the door. Even got to talk to O'Byrne for a good twenty minutes about his role in 'FROZEN'. And, according to Lennox, she HAS been doing dishes since her Tony win.

While the show didn't leave me as stunned and impressed as I had expected it to, it is something we all must see. It, like PROOF did a few years ago, is taking our world - the theater world - by storm and it is something we must all experience. Shanley's play has gone through an incredible journey, one that we can all hope to be a part of someday.

Updated On: 6/12/05 at 11:27 AM

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:32am

Is there any chance this will still be running at Christmas? I can't get to NYC before then and I'm dying to see this.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:51am

I have a feeling it will be.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:52am

I hope you're right!!!!!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 3:03pm

Great review, Iluv.

"Doubt" will be running for at least another year, so it will definitely be around come Christmas.