Doubt, A Parable - Maria Surprise

They saved the best for last.  Doubt, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play by the esteemed John Patrick Shanley, closes the stellar 2007-08 Alliance Theatre season on the main stage.  Expertly directed by none other than Susan V. Booth, this tightly woven drama deftly navigates the waters that run between certainty and doubt.  Every word, every gesture and pause has meaning in this concise and wonderful work of art; nothing is left to waste.  From the stark but effective set design and staging to the glorious cast, Doubt works on every level.  Each scene is beautifully crafted, and each character has an important role to play as the drama unfolds.  Watch out for Donna Biscoe as Mrs. Muller – she practically steals the show from Pamela Nyberg’s Sister Aloysius.  John Patrick Shanley has written a masterpiece for the stage, and this production deserves to be seen by all of Atlanta and beyond.

After the performance, my husband, friends and I had an animated discussion about the play on our walk home.  It is highly likely you will, too, for this carefully plotted drama confounds as well as excites.  Are you absolutely certain of a character’s innocence – or guilt?  Keep talking…you may find a sliver of doubt slowly eroding your convictions. 

Doubt is not only the last play of the current Alliance Theatre season, it is also the end of my brief stint as a reviewer.  Thank you, Alliance Theatre, for giving me a voice this season, and for allowing me the opportunity to be a small part of your community.  I look forward to the 2008-09 season, as I will be back in my regular seats, on my regular night, waiting to see what new dramas unfold on stage.