Mark your calendar for the next OIB party March 11, Playhouse On The Green. Say what? That’s right, I’m inviting OIB friends to be my guest opening night of Doubt. Here’s the deal. We’re having a pre-show party at 7 p.m. OIB friends will adjourn to the balcony of the Playhouse On The Green for the 8 p.m. performance. If you’ve never been there it’s the berries, 177 State Street Downtown, across from McLevy Green. It will be a slammin’ night. John Patrick Shanley’s an amazing writer. He also wrote Moonstruck. The show is directed by Bridgeport Theatre Company Artistic Director Eli Newsom. BTC produces sweet shows at the Playhouse.
I need a head count for this party. If you want to join us as an OIB guest, please send me an email with number of guests at lenniegrimaldi@onlyinbridgeport.com. More about the show:
BRIDGEPORT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS DOUBT
Bridgeport Theatre Company, Fairfield County’s newest theatre group, presents Doubt: A Parable, the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning play by John Patrick Shanley, performing March 11th – March 27th at Playhouse on the Green, located at 177 State Street in Downtown Bridgeport.
Doubt is an engrossing drama that examines the themes of doubt versus certainty, and tradition versus change as viewed through the prism of the Catholic Church in the 1960s. One woman’s monumental certainty shines as harshly as a naked light bulb amidst the shadows of uncertainty. Set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx, suspicions of doubt are cast when Sister Aloysius accuses Father Flynn, the beloved and progressive parish priest, of some unholy behavior. The play is an inspired study in moral uncertainty, with the compellingly certain structure of an old-fashioned detective drama; it holds your conscious attention as an intelligent and measured debate of conscience.
“All the elements come invigoratingly together like clockwork in John Patrick Shanley’s provocative new play, DOUBT.”—Variety.
This is the one play that any theatre lover should see. The show is directed by Artistic Director, Eli Newsom, and the cast features Brian Michael Riley (Bridgeport) as Father Flynn, Lucy Babbitt (Stratford) as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Camara McLaughlin (Westport) as Sister James, and Cassandra Lindsey-Williams (Meriden) as Mrs. Muller. Doubt ran for 525 performances on Broadway where it won four Tony Awards including Best Play. John Patrick Shanley is the author of numerous plays, and he has written extensively for TV and film, including Moonstruck, for which he won an Academy Award for original screenplay.
“#1 show of the year. Blunt yet subtle, manipulative but full of empathy for all sides.”—NY Newsday.
For additional information about Bridgeport Theatre Company and directions to the theatre, visit www.BridgeportTheatre.org
Lennie,
Great news on many levels about your next party at Playhouse on the Green. Thank you for the invite. Wonder how many folks have visited the theater recently to enjoy the comfortable seating and intimate productions, great for live theater.
I have not gotten tired of DOUBT, having seen it both off and on Broadway as well as Stratford and Westport productions. Saw the movie and read the script by John Patrick Shanley. Only four characters but the dialogue keeps your attention surely. And the finale brings things to a crescendo of “doubt!”
I can see Shanley writing a four-person tragicomedy for OIB readers featuring four former Bridgeport Mayors: My candidates might be Barnum, McLevy, Ganim and Fabrizi. Grin might do voiceovers a la SURPRISE IT’S BRIDGEPORT. (While I realize at least two of these former Mayors have passed, nevertheless some Mayors appear so inert the difference between living and dead requires CSI.
Shanley wrote MOONSTRUCK as well as DOUBT and many more productions, but the play about Bridgeport might be called DOUBTSTRUCK!!!
Oh BEACON2 of light at the end of the tunnel. I think “Bless Me Father” would do well if it could be produced at this venue or at The Downtown Cabaret.
Just went over to the Playhouse site to see about opening night availability of tickets.
No mention of DOUBT yet.
Lennie, when the show is posted, let us know. A heads-up will be appreciated by the Theater, cast members and audience to be, for sure.
www .bridgeporttheatre.org for additional info.
Bridgeport Politics is all “theatre” after all. I missed the last OIB Party. I heard Local Eyes is doing the Stewie Griffin dance. I hope I can make it.
Those who read my statements know I stand for process in institutions that is open, accountable and transparent for the benefit of those served. Movement towards those objectives in municipal governance (or in the case of DOUBT, in Church governance) is to be identified, acknowledged and supported. Just talking about it does not qualify for an “attaboy or attagirl!”
For instance imagine if the live theater experience featured a closed curtain with the actors and action on one side and the audience on the other. How many nights would that draw feet to the seats?
Having seen DOUBT staged live on four occasions, read the play script and seen the movie, I look forward to being a member of the audience on opening night at the Playhouse on the Green after Lennie’s party.
“Bless Me, Father, For I Have Sinned,” a dramatic reading of dialogue from the Diocese of Bridgeport v. Rosado case that was not heard by the US Supreme Court, argues for more open, accountable and transparent process in Roman Catholic Church governance as well. Talking the talk is one thing, but walking it, in the footsteps of the Leader, is an entirely different endeavor for Church leaders and leaves one vulnerable to questions, to dialogue, and to discussion. My goodness, how Early American? Perhaps we need a “retro” period in examining how we got where we are and what we are going to do about it. Each person examining their own conscience while also calling to information about and questioning the currency of corporations, government at all levels, unions, church and service organizations. Freedom and responsibility are in tension. Opinion and action likewise need to be in healthy tension. There are very few free passes available today for anyone to assume that others owe you a solution and you owe no contribution to solving the present problems.
We are free Americans in the “land of opportunity” blessed with so much more than so many in the world around us. If we cannot or will not work on the problems facing us, then those in responsible positions should resign to the sidelines and let those who would do so get on with that activity.
And a thank you to Up On Bridgeport: we are working on a production of “Bless Me, Father …” for downtown Bridgeport so local Catholics can see and hear what the local Diocese went to great legal expense to keep hidden from all of us, “behind the curtain.” It speaks the very words expressed by ordained priests, monsignors and former Bishops in depositions, affidavits and letters about their part in the sexual abuse of youth scandal. Look for word shortly!