“Doubt” at the Rogue Theater Company

Anyway,… there are only four characters: a priest, two nuns, and a mother of a boy who is in the elementary school. RTC continues its tradition of casting impossibly wonderful, strong, nuanced actors in key roles. Sister Aloysius (Vilma Silva), school principal, is impeccably self-righteous.  Father Flynn (Daniel Molina), a local priest who teaches religion and PE, is exquisitely and suspiciously warm, detailed, and emotional. These key characters are fleshed out in their conversations and interactions with Sister James (Rainbow Dickerson ) and Mrs. Muller (Gina Davis), the boy’s mother.

The plot itself is not surprising in modern times. Sister Aloysius suspects the priest of giving Mrs. Muller’s boy alcohol and doing inappropriate things to him. Her doubt about the propriety of the priest’s actions is less like a doubt and more like an inditement. Yet, there are no facts for us to judge him… or her… on.

For the story to work the nun and the priest have to be consistent, convincing, and transparent. The RTC cast members are just that. Silva delivers her ice cold judgement with conviction that avoids loud volume or histrionics but is overwhelming in its confidence of guilt. She polishes her aloof superiority which she both cherishes and knowledges is estranging.

Molina, meanwhile, gives the young priest warmth, humanity, and a focus on helping. He is open about his actions and his motives. On stage he feels believable to everyone except for Silva’s moralistic nun.

The brilliantly written back-and-forth did-he-do-good/did-he-do-bad reveals performed by Molina and Silva whipsaw the audience scene by scene. In the days afterwards I still am flipping from believing her to believing him as recall this line or that vignette.

The supporting characters are also very solid. Dickerson’s enthusiastic young nun contrasts with Silva’s nun’s alienating self-righteousness. In doing so she exposes Silva’s bias against believing in the simple warmth of anyone, including the priest. This nun’s energy and relative youth also aligns with those aspects of the priest in contrast to Silva’s more mature and reserved principal.  Dickerson delivers her character’s suppressed optimism with perfect imperfect inconsistency.

Davis’s smaller role as the mother of the boy is important because it details the emotional needs of her son and her family while strengthening the possible accuracy of Silva’s suspicions. Davis maintains a focused, positive purpose while delivering some lines that might not feel real coming from a less talented actor’s mouth.

All in all, the actors and the script deserve each other… in a very good way.

RTC has also done some improvements to the physical space. The raised stage gave a much clearer view of the action than some of the previous ground-level performances. The odd queuing before the theater doors open and the cold inside temperatures are notable, but they don’t change the overall rave review of the performance.

Doubt is a definite 5-star performance… without a doubt!