Sunday, September 7, 2008

‘Doubt’ tells thoughtful tale

By Katie Libecco

YOUNGSTOWN — The Oakland Center for the Arts continues its practice of non-traditional productions with its opening of “Doubt.”

Is it a delightful show? No. But the cast and crew do a beautiful job of telling a very ugly story.

The play is by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Mike Hinge. Set in 1964 at a Catholic school in the Bronx, “Doubt” centers itself on the non-appearing character of Donald Muller. He’s the first black student at St. Nicholas, and the cast of four tell the story of a potential abuse of the boy.

Appearing in the show are James McClellan as Father Flynn, Joanne Carney Smith as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, April Sauline as Sister James and Carla Gipson as Muller’s mother.

“Doubt” is not an easy show to pull off. It begins as a sermon in a Catholic church and has the least amount of skin shown on the Oakland stage. With those factors, one would think “Doubt” to be an improbable dud. But that’s not the case with this performance.

First, the characters are believable. Though Gipson has the smallest part in the production, her strong performance gives the show a new dynamic. Her scene is almost scientific proof of, “There’s no small parts, just small actors.”

That’s not to say those with more lines aren’t also compelling. Smith as Sister Aloysius and Sauline as Sister James convey a very tangible relationship. (Maybe, because, Sauline was a student of Smith’s at Cardinal Mooney High School in the not-so-distant past?)

And James McClellan is spot-on with his portrayal, giving the audience enough “Doubt” to make this performance work.

A note also to the set design by Leslie Brown, stepping away from the standard use of the Oakland stage and dreaming up a new idea that successfully conveys several sets on one and allowing tableaus while other action is happening.

The script offers many thoughtful lines to take away from the play regarding convictions, faith and consequences. Not the kind of quotes you can post to your Facebook, but “Doubt” asks the audience the kind of questions that stay with a person for some time.

Featured gallery artist for this production is Hannah Woodruffe, an anthropology student from the University of Chicago spending time in Youngstown for research. Her paintings reflect a steel town of days gone by with collage including imagery from a Sears Roebuck catalog.

For more on her work, visit wow-wow-wow-wow.com.