Despite its title, John Patrick Shanley’s Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Doubt” — now being staged by Ann Arbor Civic Theatre — has established itself, in the course of just a few years, as a surefire, dependable hit.

Set in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, “Doubt” tells the story of a principal, Sister Aloysius, who suspects that a parish priest, Father Flynn, has behaved inappropriately with a young, African-American student in the school. To this end, she questions the priest, as well as the boy’s mother, in an attempt to resolve her troubling doubts.

“Great dramas are the ones that leave you with questions, not resolutions,” said Matt Martello, who’s directing A2CT’s production, in an e-mail interview. “We as audience members (wonder) if there will be any closure for the Magrath sisters in Henley's ‘Crimes Of The Heart.’ We wonder if Biff and Happy will ever improve their lives in ‘Death Of A Salesman.’ With ‘Doubt,’ you are left with several questions, the obvious (one) being about Father Flynn's guilt or innocence.”

While exploring this question, though, other issues arise in “Doubt”: gender-based power structures within the church; racial prejudices and inequalities; the vulnerability of children; etc.

All of these matters combine to make the small, four-person, single-act, 90-minute drama a kind of dramatic locomotive.

“I saw ‘Doubt’ on Broadway twice,” said Martello. “ … I would love for audience members who see this production more than once to have the same multiple reactions that I did. For my money, if that happens, then the actors and I have done our jobs.”

“Doubt” premiered off-Broadway in 2004, starring Cherry Jones and Brian F. O’Byrne, before transferring to Broadway in 2005.

Regarding A2CT’s casting choices, Martello said, “Appearances were very important to me this time. Match-ups onstage were important as well. … The good news was that we had choices for each of the roles.”

You might well wonder, of course, if the actors involved in A2CT’s “Doubt” have determined, on an individual basis, Father Flynn’s guilt or innocence.

“The rehearsals have been great because I have encouraged the actors to … discuss the scenes after rehearsing them,” said Martello. “I also encourage them to offer different reads of their characters nightly.”

So if you’re expecting A2CT’s “Doubt” will slant toward a particular viewpoint, think again.

“There are many aspects of this world that are not black or white," Martello said. " … Doubt is one of those grey areas that we all deal with on a daily basis. I don't want there to be a clear cut answer when audience members walk out of the theater. … That's the only way this play works.”

Watch a promotional video for the show:

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.