Le Petit raises ‘Doubt’ in Houma

“Doubt: A Parable,” John Patrick Shanley’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning 2004 play, is controversial because it deals with the possible molestation of a schoolchild by a Catholic priest.

But the play tackles many other issues and has larger meanings, said director Karen Schilling.

Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne (7829 Main St., downtown Houma) is presenting “Doubt” March 5-15. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. except for the Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. No show will be presented on March 9.

On March 14, a 2 p.m. performance will be presented in addition to the 7:30 p.m. show. Admission is $12 for nonmembers.

“Doubt” is set at a Catholic school in New York in 1964, a year when Second Vatican Council reforms were being established, including the saying of Masses in English rather than Latin.

Stern school principal Sister Aloysius (Jeanne Caldarera) suspects that the parish’s young new priest, Father Flynn (Daniel Ruiz), is molesting the school’s only black student, Donald Muller, though she has no direct evidence.

Sister Aloysius confides in idealistic eighth-grade teacher Sister James (Ani Ashley) that she had a previous experience at another school where “a priest had to be stopped.” She confronts Flynn, who denies her accusation.

Muller’s mother (Angela Jones Landry) tells Sister Aloysius that she approves of the relationship between her son and Flynn regardless of the circumstances. Donald’s father is cruel to him and at least Flynn shows an interest. “You accept what you got to accept and you work with it,” Donald’s mother states.

Sister Aloysius then lies to the priest, telling him she had spoken to a nun at one of Flynn’s previous parishes about another incident that occurred. Flynn claims that there is an innocent explanation (though Sister Aloysius had made up the incident).

Near the end, Sister Aloysius vows to find a parent who will expose Flynn, then expresses doubt about her actions. Playwright Shanley is not clear whether the doubt is about her accusing Flynn without evidence, or lying to the priest. Or maybe she is doubting her faith entirely.

“The show is exceptionally well

written,” Schilling said. “It’s a deep play that deals with sensitive issues.”

“As responsible producers, we owe it to the community to bring different sorts of theater, to change the pace,” she said. “When we read it, we knew it would be different. We read reviews from other community theaters. They said it was stimulating and thought-provoking.”

“I wouldn’t characterize the play being about a priest molesting a child,” Schilling said. “It’s about integration. Donald Muller is the first black in the school. It was a huge transition. The priest reaches out. His actions may or may not be what the principal thinks. That’s the theme of the play.”

“Doubt” also has monologues about the evils of gossip; the school principal making an accusation without real evidence is a major theme, Schilling said.

The play does not reveal definitively whether Flynn is a molester. At the end, the priest is assigned to another parish with a promotion.

“There are two people defending the child, but no proof who’s right or wrong,” Schilling said. “You think someone wins in the end because of an action taken, but you have doubt.”

The show drew plenty of interest when Le Petit announced “Doubt” for its 2008-09 schedule. Around 30 people auditioned for the four roles.

Ruiz has professional acting experience and is the gifted and talented theater teacher at Hahnville High School. He recently returned from acting stints on the West Coast.

Caldarera has acted in numerous Le Petit productions, including the lead role in Noel Coward’s “Waiting in the Wings” in 2007.

Ashley also has professional theater experience.

She appeared in Le Petit’s “Perfect Wedding” and as Queen Gertrude in The Sam & Jim Acting Co.’s production of “Hamlet,” both last year.

Landry, the choir director at H.L. Bourgeois High School, has acted at Nicholls State and in other local productions.

Schilling, a veteran director at Le Petit, said, “This is pure acting, exploring places inside of people. You say, I never thought about it in that way. There is deep character and emotional development.”

Call Le Petit at (985) 876-4278 for more information.

The cast of “Doubt” includes (seated from left) Angela Jones Landry as Mrs. Muller, Jeanne Caldarera as Sister Aloysius, (standing) Daniel Ruiz as Father Flynn and Ani Ashley as Sister James.