When a national touring production of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Doubt, A Parable” came to San Diego in 2006 for performances at the Civic Theatre downtown, Kym Pappas was in an audience.
“I got to see Cherry Jones in the role (of Catholic school principal Sister Aloysius),” recalled actor-director Pappas. “She was perfect.”
These many years later, New Village Arts Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner asked Pappas to consider playing Sister Aloysius herself in NVA’s season-opening production of “Doubt.” Pappas said she hesitated, citing a busy schedule, but “The biggest issue was I was afraid. She (Sister Aloysius) is hard and that intimidated me. She’s so rigid and driven by an extreme moral compass.”
Ultimately Pappas, who was part of NVA’s huge cast earlier this year in its stellar production of “The Ferryman” (like “Doubt” directed by Kurner), opted to meet the challenge. As “Doubt” begins previews tonight, Pappas has come to understand Sister Aloysius in a new way.
“I really feel, now that I’m starting to live in it a little bit more, that she’s really driven by love,” Pappas said.
Set at the fictitious St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx, “Doubt, A Parable” finds Sister Aloysius confronting a priest, Father Flynn (AJ Knox), whom she believes has committed sexual misconduct with a male student. Not wanting to believe the accusation and finding herself in conflict with Sister Aloysius is the young Sister James (Juliana Scheding).
“This play addresses numerous issues,” said Pappas, “but in my heart the biggest one is that children over many generations have been hurt and it’s swept under the rug. This just perpetuates cycles of violence and shame.”
“Beyond that, one of the reasons I love this play so much is that there is no answer. It leaves it in your hands as an audience member.”
This production is Scheding’s third time working with Pappas, the second as a fellow actor. She was directed by Pappas while a student in a 2019 production of Jose Rivera’s “Sonnets for an Old Century” at University of California San Diego. Then this year at NVA, Scheding portrayed one of Pappas’ daughters in “The Ferryman.”
“It was exciting to see her as an actor and to see how fully she puts her soul into things,” recalled Scheding of the “Ferryman” experience. “She’s so present. I admire her greatly.”
Playing Sister James “get more complicated the more you’re into it,” said Scheding. “I’ve been wrestling with why she’s so scared to stand up. Everything in this world order that she has completely devoted her life to since she was very young is shattered by the people that she’s institutionally told to trust. These priests are hurting the people that she is protecting.
“I have a hard time with her choice to believe Father Flynn, but I’m having compassion for her.”
“Doubt” is the first time that either Pappas or Scheding has portrayed a nun. That’s a challenge in itself.
“Your whole perspective is different,” said Pappas, “when you put that bonnet on.”
The gravity of this play and the demands of wearing a nun’s habit aside, Pappas is pleased to be working again with Scheding.
“I trust her,” Pappas said, “and I think she’s brilliant. I hate being so mean to her every day onstage.”
‘Doubt, A Parable’
When: Previews today through Sept. 29. Opens Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 22. Showtimes, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Where: Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center, 2787 State St., Carlsbad
Tickets: $28-$48
Phone: (760) 433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
Coddon is a freelance writer.
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