‘Doubt’, written by John Patrick Shanley in 2004, takes place in 1964 at a Catholic school.  The school has just welcomed its first African American student, Donald Muller.  Questions arise as Sister Aloysius, the school’s principal, investigates the relationship between Muller and Father Flynn.

The play is one act long and does not include an intermission.

“You don’t get to give the audience a break,” Felkins said.  “I want to keep the audience on the edge of their seat for about an hour and 15 minutes.”

Bailey Lawrence, a senior theatre major, will play Sister Aloysius.  Meryl Streep played Sister Aloysius in ‘Doubt’ the movie released in 2008.

“It’s kind of nerve wracking because I have Meryl Streep to live up to,” Lawrence said.  “People expect a certain performance.”

Because of the lack of intermission in ‘Doubt’, the audience will not be able to discuss the play until the show is over.  Felkins said she hopes the audience talks about the play after the conclusion.

“I intend the audience leaving here to get in an argument or in depth discussion,” Felkins said.  “The play is more than the whole scandal [and] conflict.”

Lawrence noted that an intermission would defeat the purpose Shanley had for this play.

“It forces the audience to stay in the driving action,” Lawrence said.  “If they left at intermission, they’d have too much time to debate.”

Felkins said that one of the points of the play is to make the audience itself doubt and question.

“Doubt” ran Oct. 21-23.  The play continues Oct. 27-30, starting at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are free for students and faculty.  They can be picked up before the performances at the Box Office in the Fine Arts Complex.