Theatrical triptych

It's a rare season when Triangle audiences see regional premieres of three Pulitzer Prize-winning dramas. But the arrival of John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt: A Parable" and Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog" creates a theatrical triptych that began last month with David Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole."

PlayMakers Repertory Company will stage "Doubt" and "Topdog" in repertory, alternating plays that "reflect and refract one another," said producing artistic director Joseph Haj.

In "Doubt," a Catholic school principal wrestles with faith, justice and assumptions about truth in the face of suspicions regarding a priest-student relationship. Parks' play, which centers on two African-American brothers named Lincoln and Booth, delves into the way people are defined by history.

The plays come from distinctly imaginative voices and ask more questions than the writers choose to answer, Haj says -- "and that's a good thing."

PlayMakers, the resident professional company in UNC-CH's Department of Dramatic Art, has staged regional premieres of four other Pulitzer winners of the past 10 years. Manbites Dog Theater in Durham has done the honors with two, "Rabbit Hole" and Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive." Nilo Cruz's "Anna in the Tropics" has yet to be presented locally. The drama prize was not awarded in 2006.

Haj said a Pulitzer might signal a play's importance but is not in itself a reason to stage a given drama.

"What's important for us is to identify the plays that we think our community will be most interested in," he said.

"Doubt" and "Topdog" run Saturday-March 2. Call 962-7529 or visit www.playmakersrep.org for details.