Acting on faith: 'Doubt' at the SCRC

Whatever you do, don't judge "Doubt: A Parable" by its plot synopsis alone.

The Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play focuses on a parochial middle school in 1964 where a traditionalist nun principal suspects that the priest has an inappropriate relationship with the school's first black student.

But wait a minute -- the show isn't a commentary about the Catholic church's sexual molestation scandals. It's not even a commentary about religion.

"This is not a play that disparages the Catholic church," says Blake White, who plays the lead role of Father Flynn in the upcoming South Carolina Repertory Company's production. "If you are the staunchest Catholic, you're not going to walk out of here offended. You'll be walking out of here thinking."

"Doubt" actually follows a trend of

"thinking" films, plays and stories that are more multi-dimensional -- in other words, it's not a formulaic theatrical vehicle with beginning, middle and end. "It's a one-act play," White says. "The second act is the ride home."

In fact, critics hailed "Doubt" on Broadway as a play that ignites conversation among its viewers, citing its multiple layers of issues involving racism, religion and politics. "It played on Broadway for 500 performances," White says. "It was one of the best plays written in the past 15 years."

John Patrick Shanley, an Academy Award-winning screenplay writer, wrote "Doubt" in 2004 and is now set to direct it a film version starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Tom Evans, the play's director, and Barbara Farrar, who plays Sister Aloysius, decided to bring "Doubt" to the Repertory Company's stage after seeing it on Broadway two years ago.

"The curtain came down and we turned to each other afterward and said, 'We have to bring it to the SCRC.' "

Pat and Hank Haskell, the Repertory Company's founders, loved the play so much that "Doubt" is the longest-running play the company has ever had.

"Our audience is great," Evans says. "They like plays that challenge them."

The cast members were on hand last week to discuss the production. One thing is clear: they say audience members can see this play more than once and each time leave with a new opinion. The Repertory Company will host a discussion forum between the audience and cast members. But the cast and the director don't have an opinion of their own.

"I'm on my character's side," Farrar says. "The actor has to be on the character's side."

"Our job is not to tell the audience who is guilty and who's not innocent," Blake interjects.

Evans says people in the audience are like members in a jury. They will find themselves making judgments based on limited knowledge of the situation.

"The play is really showing us how difficult it is to make a moral decision," Evans says. "It's really about acting on faith."