Junior theater majors Natalie King and Carolyn Lohkamp rehearse lines for the production of “Doubt: A Parable” Tuesday night. “Doubt- A Parable” has been scheduled to run it’s second production this week Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Frederickson Theater. Jenny Pendarvis/The Bulletin
“Doubt,” a play by John Patrick Shanley which is currently being presented by the Theater Department, depicts a collision between a nun and a priest whom she suspects of having intimate relations with a young boy in the school.
“It is an extremely profound and well-written play,” said Jim Ryan, director of Doubt and professor of theater. “It gives the cast great roles to play and the audience a very thought-provoking evening.”
Junior theater major Carolyn Lohkamp plays the role of Sister Aloysius who is the principal of the St. Nicholas school. Lohkamp said that her character is very stern and the main conflict takes place between her and Father Flynn, played by junior theater major and Bulletin distribution manager Noah Mefford.
“I really enjoyed the script itself,” Lohkamp said. “The ending is really pretty well left up to the audience’s decision and opinion.”
In order to prepare for the part, Lohkamp said that she and junior theater major Natalie King, who plays Sister James, visited a convent in Wichita and also studied the hierarchy of the church and what it was like to be a nun in the 1960s.
“It’s been very rewarding because I’ve gotten to play a character who’s so different from myself, and I really got close with everyone in the cast because it’s so small,” Lohkamp said.
Once actors were cast at the beginning of the semester, hours of rehearsals took place beginning in March.
“There’s just a lot that goes into putting a play together,” Ryan said. “It’s a collaborative art.”
Ryan said that he heavily suggested “Doubt” as the spring production over a year ago and the other faculty members agreed.
Ryan said that the play is both a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner, which was important in it being chosen. He also said that the subject is timely with having been in the media over the several past years.
After the first four performances last week, Ryan said that he has been extremely pleased with the production. The play also runs through Saturday this week. Overall, Ryan encourages everyone to see this play.
“It’s beautifully acted and everyone who comes will be engrossed in the story,” Ryan said. “You get drawn into the story.”
Doubt beings at 7:30 p.m. each night in Roosevelt Hall. Tickets are available in the ESU Box Office in the Memorial Union.
Brooke Schultz