[NEohioPAL] Berko review: DOUBT: A PARABLE (CPH) & preview: NCMC and Bernadette Peters

[Roy Berko]

Review:  Compelling ‘DOUBT’ is at Cleveland Play
House, Preview:  Bernadette Peters and the North Coast
Men’s Chorus.

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

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DOUBT:  A PARABLE

John Patrick Shanley’s ‘DOUBT:  A PARABLE,’ now in
production at the Cleveland Play House, won the 2005
Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony for Best Drama,
as well as the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award
for Best Play of the season. 

There is much anticipation concerning the movie
version, starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour
Hoffman, which is presently in production.

Not only is the script well crafted, with the right
direction and casting, the results can be compelling
theatre.  Fortunately for Play House patrons, Seth
Gordon, who directed the show, proves once again he is
a master at his craft.  The show is well-paced and
hits all the emotional chords.  Both the laughs and
the dramatic tensions are highlighted. This is
professional theatre as its best! 

On Broadway, all four members of the cast were
nominated for Tony Awards.  I saw the show shortly
after it premiered and that ensemble had nothing on
the CPH group. 

The 90-minute play runs without intermission.  This is
a wise choice, because any break in the constantly
building tension would ruin the over-all effect.

The story is housed in a Catholic elementary school
presided over by Sister Aloysius, a traditional
no-nonsense nun who wears her habit as armor against
modernism and change.  She is in a battle for the
hearts and minds of her pupils with a young priest who
believes the clergy should be accessible to the parish
and be thought of "as members of their family."  These
divergent thoughts are accented by the Sister’s
“feelings” and “instincts” that the priest is
molesting the schools’ only black student. Aloysius
confronts Flynn with her suspicions.  

To give away any more of the plot would eliminate the
doubt of the conclusion and thwart the “second act,”
which probably takes place as theatre-goers travel
homeward, discussing their doubts about the priest’s
innocence or guilt.

Barbara Andres is appropriately unbending and scary as
Sister Aloysius.  The women sitting next to me, a
product of Catholic schools, moaned, “Oh my God, she’s
my old principal, every Catholic school kid’s
nightmare!”   Early-on Andres wisely underplays the
vocal aspects of the role so that when she needs her
verbal power, it becomes even more emphatic than if
she had over-projected through out.  

Michael Frederic is convincing as the Priest.   He
makes us want to believe him.  But, are we
intentionally led by his charm and demeanor to make us
assume his innocence, or are we being tricked by a
master manipulator? 

Jennifer Ruffner, noted for her performances on local
stages, hits all the emotional right notes as Sister
James, a dynamic but naïve young teacher who is caught
between the opposing forces of the Sister and the
Priest.

Cherene Snow, who received extended applause as she
made her exit after a tense but pivotal scene, is
compelling as the mother of the Black student who
understands the realities of life as they relate to
her son.

Russell Parkman’s set and Trad Burns’ lighting enhance
the production. 

CAPSULE JUDGMENT:  Seth Gordon and his CPH cast
deserve accolades for their compelling production of
‘DOUBT: A PARABLE.”  If you don’t see this production
you will miss one of the highlights of the local
theatrical season!

CPH’s next presentation is  Jane’s Austin’s ‘PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE,’ as adapted by James Maxwell.  Dates are
March 21-April 13.

For tickets to CPH shows call 216-795-7000 or go to
www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

BERNADETTE PETERS TO APPEAR WITH NORTH COAST MEN’S
CHORUS

On Friday, March 28, 2008 at 8:00 PM in the Allen
Theatre, Tony award-winning diva Bernadette Peters
will appear with the North Coast Men’s Chorus in a
revue of song, comedy and dance.  The program will
also feature the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.   Peters
has appeared in such Broadway shows as ‘GYPSY,’ ‘ANNIE
GET YOUR GUN,’ ‘SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE,’ ‘THE
GOODBYE GIRL,’ ‘MACK AND MABEL, ‘ON THE TOWN,’ and
‘INTO THE WOODS.’

This is not her first appearance with men’s choruses. 
In 1996, she made her highly-anticipated solo debut at
Carnegie Hall in a concert benefiting the Gay Men’s
Health Crisis.
  
Tickets for this unique event, which  are now on sale,
range from  $10.00 to $105. Go to the Playhouse Square
Ticket Office or  www.playhousesquare.org or call
(216) 241-6000 or toll-free at 1-800-766-6048.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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