Out In Town

Doubt: What do you do when you are not sure?

This is the question that the play “Doubt” presents its audience to grab its attention. And it does. I had the opportunity to catch one of the last presentations of this very acclaimed play here on its tour stop to Los Angeles. The play is on a tour through the United States after winning many awards (including Tony and Pulitzer) on Broadway. It is set against the backdrop of a Catholic school in 1964. Sister Aloysius, the principal of the school has a doubt. She is not sure if one of the priests is having an inappropriate behavior towards one of the new kids at school. Her gut feeling tells her that something is going on, but she has no proof. What does one do in such a situation?

It is by no means a powerful display of substance by only four characters on stage. It brings forth many of our own insecurities and flaws as society: our inability to want to stand up, question and confront. The role played by the young Sister James portrays the world we live in. A world that wants to believe everything is fine. A world that would rather close the curtains than open up the window and take a look at reality. Sister James is afraid she might be wrong and her fear paralizes her to the point of insomnia and nightmares. She is willing to quickly accept any answer Father Flynn gives as an explanation for his behavior. However, as the saying goes: “ The devil is wiser because he’s older, not because he’s the devil.” Sister Aloysius makes well use of her years of experience to confront the situation. The play is so carefully crafted that at times you are not even sure if Father Flynn is guilty or if it is just a personal issue that Sister Aloysius has against him.

Then, what to do? Sister Aloysius leaves us with a powerful line to ponder upon and to consider the next time we question ourselves: “Innocence can only be wisdom in a world without evil.” We must leave our zone of comfort. We must not be afraid to question. And while we question and confront, the best thing we can hope for is that we are wrong. For in situations like this one, it is better to be wrong, than to be sorry...

posted by Guerrero Azteca @ 1:19 PM