Total Rating: 
****
Opened: 
November 23, 2004
Ended: 
January 30, 2005
Country: 
USA
State: 
New York
City: 
New York
Company/Producers: 
Manhattan Theater Club
Theater Type: 
off-Broadway
Theater: 
Manhattan Theater Club at City Center
Theater Address: 
131 West 55th Street
Phone: 
(212) 581-1212
Running Time: 
90 min
Genre: 
Drama
Author: 
John Patrick Shanley
Director: 
Doug Hughes
Review: 

 Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, is a powerful play -- a peek into Catholic education; a conflict between a loving, compassionate priest and a severe nun who runs the school. The play is a brilliant dissection of the human soul, with a stunning performance by Cherry Jones, in which she totally invests herself into the character. It's one of the finest, most moving performances of the year. The rest of the cast of the four character play is quite good, especially Brian F. O'Byrne as the priest. John Lee Beatty's set, which is both expansive and constricting, Pat Collins' lighting, and sharp direction by Doug Hughes, all enhance Shanley's most recent play. He goes deeper here, is less playful and more profound than in his other works, without subduing his gift for language that rings true.

My spies tell me Doubt is moving to Broadway in March 2005, where it should win many awards -- it's a great show.

Parental: 
adult themes
Cast: 
Cherry Jones, Brian F. O'Byrne
Critic: 
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed: 
December 2004