Doubt: A Parable - Ellerslie Theatrical Society

Press Release – 10 May 2009

Ellerslie Theatrical Society presents:
Doubt: A Parable
by John Patrick Shanley
directed by Sian Davis

4 – 13 June 2009

Sisters: Left to right – Sister James (Jocelyn Bunch), Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Sue Golding).

SYNOPSIS
Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Doubt has become the most produced play in America. In a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, a strong-minded nun must decide whether to voice her concerns about a male colleague, even if she’s not completely certain of the truth. Doubt is a story filled with suspicions and dilemmas so real you’ll be talking about it long after you leave the theatre. .

“Moral certainty never seemed so suspect ... a beautifully crafted thriller ...” – David Cote, TimeOut New York

THE SETTING
Winter 1964-5. NZ in summer snoozes...although even there 'Kiwi Keith' Holyoake is ruminating on the possible implications of the 'domino theory', and should we follow the Aussies. The US, a hemisphere away: this is not the nostalgic 60s of 'flower-power' and 'free love', the bit which 'if you can remember it, then you weren't there'! This is the darkly dramatic bit, of threat and uncertainty and change. It's the time of 'Civil Rights' and Martin Luther King', of 'the Cuban Missile Crisis', 'Vietnam', and John Kennedy, his assassination and the poisoned ‘dream’.....it's also the Second Vatican Council, and the promise of embracing a new relevancy in Roman Catholic world. And how will Sister Aloysius cope? It is the time of 'Doubt'......and what is this young priest, with his long-fingernails, his ball-point pen, his liking for 'Frosty the Snowman', really up to?

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR – Sian Davis
I really enjoy good, challenging theatre: seeing it, certainly, but more especially doing it- being on stage in a good play, and I really enjoy directing it. I've yet to make it on stage at Ellerslie, but this is my fourth go at directing here: 'The Farm', 'Wit', 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile', and now 'Doubt'.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – John Patrick Shanley
John Patrick Shanley is the author of numerous plays, including Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Dirty Story, Four Dogs and a Bone, Psychopathia Sexualis, Sailor’s Song, Savage in Limbo and Where’s My Money? He has written extensively for TV and film, and his credits include the teleplay for Live from Baghdad and screenplay for Congo; Alive; Five Corners; Joe Vs. the Volcano, which he also directed; and Moonstruck, for which he won an Academy Award for original screenplay.

Shanley is from the Bronx. He was thrown out of St. Helena’s kindergarten. He was banned from St. Anthony’s hot lunch program for life. He was expelled from Cardinal Spellman High School. He was placed on academic probation by New York University and instructed to appear before a tribunal if he wished to return. When asked why he had been treated in this way by all these institutions, he burst into tears and said he had no idea. Then he went into the United States Marine Corps. He did fine. He’s still doing okay.

PERFORMANCE DATES
(all at 8pm except matinees on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June at 2pm)

Tue Jun 2 – Press preview night
Thu Jun 4 - Opening Gala with pre-show entertainment, a complimentary drink & finger food.
Fri Jun 5
Sat (Matinee) Jun 6 @ 2pm
Sat Jun 6
Sun (Matinee) Jun 7 @ 2pm (no evening performance)
Mon Jun 8 – no performance
Tue Jun 9
Wed Jun 10
Thu Jun 11
Fri Jun 12
Sat Jun 13 – final performance

ENDS

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