Candice Moore

After working on “39 Steps” with educational theater AFTEC, Candice Moore’s company Sweet and Sour Productions will be bringing “Doubt,” a Pulitzer prize-winning play by John Patrick Shanley, to the Hong Kong stage at the end of May. The play, a tension-filled drama about a priest who is accused of sexual misconduct with a student, was made famous by the 2008 film adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Evelyn Lok speaks to Moore about what the play will bring to Hong Kong audiences, and the joys and challenges of working in local English theater.

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Published: 4:00pm, 22 May 2014Updated: 4:09pm, 19 Oct 2016

HK Magazine: Why did you decide to put on this play?

Candice Moore: I was thinking about doing it for a while. The best thing about it is the writing—it’s written in such a way that you think you believe [the accused Father Flynn], and you could also easily change your mind. The playwright himself said that when you’re watching the play you should try not to decide—although it’s hard not to. It challenges people not to decide “did he or didn’t he,” and just to be comfortable with being doubtful. If there’s such a thing as a perfect play, this is it.

HK: How do you think people can relate to a story about a church scandal?

CM: To me the issue of the church: the power, the hierarchy and corruption—possibly—in the church, is relevant. You read stories about that a lot in the media. Not all negative, but being such a big institution, it’s going to catch the eye of a lot of people as well. People from the church seem reluctant to go, but they should come and see if the issues are relevant!

HK: Does “Doubt” raise any other issues apart from religion?

CM: Set in the 60s, the hierarchy they were dealing with then brings up issues of sexism. Back then, men were the “rulers,” if you like, in the church, and that’s why in the play Sister Aloysius is so frustrated, because she doesn’t have power. I think that’s a relevant issue today—whether it’s in the corporate world, or in the church, in whatever industry or area. The focus of the play is on the relationships and the tensions between the characters. At the same time, you can’t neglect the religious aspect either. For us, it will be clear in the design of the set, which will be very symbolic