SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #4 - Doubt (2005, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY)
Introduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties. With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 25 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. Was there ever any
Doubt that
John Patrick Shanley's extraordinary morality play would appear on my favorites list for the last decade?
Brían F. O'Byrne and Tony-winner
Cherry Jones sparred sensationally as Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius in this compelling drama that left us debating, “Did he or didn’t he?” long after our departure from the theatre.
Heather Goldenhersh and
Adriane Lenox, who won a Tony for her ethically-challenged mother, rounded out this excellent cast.
Superbly constructed by Shanley and directed with exacting precision by
Doug Hughes, it wasn’t hard to understand why
Doubt received the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play along with a Pulitzer Prize.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for this performance.Labels: Adriane Lenox, Brian F. O'Byrne, Broadway, Cherry Jones, Doubt, Doug Hughes, Heather Goldenhersch, John Patrick Shanley, Play, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties
Relieving My DoubtWhen I saw
John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning
Doubt in March 2005,
I was in complete awe of this completely compelling drama. With the redoubtable
Brían F. O'Byrne as Father Flynn sparring with Tony-winner
Cherry Jones as Sister Aloysius, we were left debating, “Did he or didn’t he?” long after our departure from the theatre.
But upon entering the movie theatre a week ago, I have to confess that I had my doubts as to whether
Shanley's personally directed screenplay could match that live theatrical experience audiences had found so riveting just a few short years ago.
With
Philip Seymour Hoffman and
Meryl Streep now in the leads, I should have known better. Their extraordinary performances were both enthralling and pitch perfect.
My larger concern was whether the silver screen incarnation would give too much away. After all, Shanley's small play only included four principal actors. A film version would by its very nature demand greater context and additional characters, including those who had only been mentioned in the play. Again, my fears were allayed. Yes, the stage version of
Doubt forced its audience to rely entirely on hearsay, but I believe the key visuals in the movie were so expertly crafted by Shanley, that precious little is given away.
Just as the stage version offered excellent turns by
Heather Goldenhersh as Sister James and Tony Award winner
Adriane Lenox as the conflicted Mrs. Muller, the screen version offers no less compelling performances by
Amy Adams and
Viola Davis. Both are superb.
Best of all, just as with
Doubt on stage, we were still discussing whether or not he did it. Bravo to John Patrick Shanley and cast.
While I've just begun my annual holiday filmgoing spree, I can tell you that to date, "
Doubt" is the best movie I've seen all year.
UPDATE (12.21.08, 8:10 p.m. EST): Scratch that last item. I just came back from "
Slumdog Millionaire" -- a movie unlike any other. Yes, I love "Doubt," but "Slumdog Millionaire" is in a class unto itself. My advice? Go see them both!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Amy Adams, Brian F. O'Byrne, Broadway, Cherry Jones, Doubt, Film, Heather Goldenhersch, John Patrick Shanley, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffmann, Play, Viola Davis
Doubt's Touring Cast is CertainAs previously reported, Tony-winning actress Cherry Jones -- who is currently treading the boards in Broadway's revival of
Faith Healer -- will reprise her acclaimed role as Sister Aloysius in the touring production of John Patrick Shanley's
Doubt. It has now been announced that Adriane Lenox, who won a Tony for her portrayal of
Doubt's conflicted mother Mrs. Muller, will be joining Jones for the first three legs of that tour (Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre, September 22-October 29; San Diego's Civic Theatre, October 31-November 5; and San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre, November 7-December 3).
Additionally, Chris McGarry and Lisa Joyce will tour as Father Flynn and Sister James, respectively. McGarry is finally getting his chance in the spotlight, having served as Brían F. O'Byrne's understudy during
Doubt's Broadway run. Joyce was recently seen in Adam Rapp's Off-Broadway/Steppenwolf production of
Red Light Winter.
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Click here for tickets.Related Stories:All Doubt Is Erased on Broadway Today (July 2, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Cherry Jones, Doubt, Play, Touring Production
All Doubt Is Erased on Broadway TodayThe Pulitzer Prize-winning
Doubt, one of Broadway's most popular plays in recent years, closes today after 525 regular performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre. John Patrick Shanley's play, which
I previously ranked as the second best production among those I saw during the 2004-05 Theatrical Season, earned a total of 7 Tony Award nominations, including for Best Play, Best Actress in a Play (Cherry Jones at her very best), Best Featured Actress in a Play (Adriane Lenox) and Best Direction of a Play (Doug Hughes).
While
Doubt has not been attracting quite the same crowds since Jones and the Tony-nominated Brían F. O'Byrne departed, the production closes with a respectable audience capacity of 64.2%.
The touring production -- sure to be a hit with Jones reprising her role as Sister Aloysius -- is currently set to begin in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area this December. The tour is scheduled for the following venues:
Tempe December 5-10, 2006 (Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium)
Chicago January 9-28, 2007 (LaSalle Bank Theatre)
Boston February 6-18, 2007 (Colonial Theatre)
Minneapolis February 27-March 4, 2007 (State Theatre)
Pittsburgh March 6-11, 2007 (Benedum Center)
Tampa Bay April 24-29, 2007 (Carol Morsani Hall at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center)
Baltimore May 1-May 13, 2007 (Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center)
Philadelphia May 15-20, 2007 (Merriam Theater)
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Doubt tour ticket information.Related Stories:Flashback: Best of 2004-05 (May 26, 2006)
Grey Gardens Moving to Broadway, Lest There Was Any Doubt (May 15, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Doubt, Play
