BEFORE THE SHOW
The first line of the play asks a question: “What do you do when you’re not sure?” What do you do in situations where you have a problem and there’s no clear resolution? How do you cope with situations of uncertainty?
This is play features a school principal who is very strict and traditional in her beliefs. Have you ever had a teacher or adult in your life who was very firm? What do you remember about them? How do you feel about them now? What (if anything) did they help you learn?
Content Warning: The play deals with a situation where there are allegations of abuse between a priest and a student in 1964, long before these situations were publicly discussed. What are some reasons these situations were not talked about openly in the past? How have things changed or stayed the same?
DURING THE SHOW
The play challenges us to grapple with an ambiguous situation. Notice who you feel sympathy for, and whose side of events you believe. Notice if your sympathies change throughout the play as you hear different perspectives or new information. What makes you trust or believe a character?
AFTER THE SHOW
What thoughts and feelings did the play raise for you? What feels resolved? What feels unresolved?
Did your sympathies towards the characters change throughout the play? Did you ever find yourself changing sides? What caused you to change your mind about a character?
Why do you think Sister Alyosius admits having doubts about what she did? Do you think Sister Aloysius did the right thing by pursuing Father Flynn? Why or why not?
Who is Donald Muller? What do we know about him? How much can we can we understand about someone who does not have a voice in the conversation?