OCTA's "Doubt" review by SwizzleStick

Captivated by Doubt
Rating: 5

Doubt, A Parable
Olathe Community Theatre Association

Oh lordy. The Olathe Community Theatre production of Doubt is in a league of its own. Never have I seen such quality at a community theatre.

This show is truly impressive and everyone who enjoys the theatre should make the trek out there and see it. All the performances are solid and affecting. The show is anchored by a very strong performance from Marilyn Lynch as Sister Aloysius. She understudied the part at the Rep and she clearly knows this woman inside and out. Christina Schafer Martin is luminous in the tricky part of Sister James; not too innocent, not too cloying - just right. Greg Butell does excellent work as Father Flynn and had me convinced he was innocent until, well, until there was doubt! And Marion Bailey as Mrs. Muller does a crowd stirring job of defending her son and brought tears to my eyes. Darren Sextro has directed the show in a most engaging way and has brought the best out of these performers. The lighting is great, the set is very nice and the whole evening is an evocative one.

One quibble, however. The show is written without an intermission but here we have one. Hmm. Was this so they could sell some sorry Costco cookies from a plastic platter and weak coffee in styrofoam cups? I wish they hadn't bothered with that part.

read the review at KC Stage