Pioneer Theatre Company

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“The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth.” Pierre Abelard (1079-1142)

John Patrick Shanley's “Doubt, A Parable” is the most critically praised and successful new American play of the last five years. Once one has seen the play, it is perhaps easy to see why. It is masterfully constructed, featuring four strong, varied, and carefully delineated characters.

“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.”
Alfred Korzybski

Shanley calls Doubt “a parable.” We know what a parable is in religion; it's a story which teaches us a lesson. What is Shanley trying to tell us with this play, which on the surface is about the Catholic Church, but which is also a parable dealing with our every day lives?

“It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong.”
G.K. Chesterton

What has made this play a challenging and rewarding one for audiences, as well as for those of us who have the opportunity to create a production of the play, is that many important questions are raised—about doubt, about certitude, about gossip, about intolerance, about sexual orientation, about the nature of faith, about personal responsibility in the face of authority—many questions. And they are not answered by the play. They are raised, twisted about, viewed from many sides—but as Shanley has said, the audience is left to play the final scene—Scene 10—themselves, after the play is over. That scene takes place in cafes, restaurants, bars, taxis, your own home. It's the scene where you discuss and argue the points raised by the play—and your individual opinion of what you just saw—and what actions the characters have actually taken.

“Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.” Andre Gide

The play also raises the important point, especially in these times, that any structure, be it a 'church', a government, or a community, which demands blind obedience and conformity without allowing a rational mind to 'doubt' or ask questions, is a structure which invites abuses. We have seen it in the Catholic Church from the Inquisition to the sexual abuse scandals; in our government in Abu Ghraib and the issue of torture; in the Soviet prison camps; in the Chinese Cultural revolution.

“To deny, to believe, and to doubt absolutely—this is for man what running is for a horse.” Blaise Pascal

Doubt makes for an extraordinary evening of theatre for just that reason—it makes us think, and question, and converse; while at the same time the play entertains us, moves us, and yes, makes us laugh.

Banner picture is PTC's 2007 production of Lost In Yonkers.