Stepping away from the norm, Players of the Stage has been hard at work rehearsing for its June 22-24 production of “Doubt” at Relevant Church, Allentown.

A small troupe of four actors sets this play apart from previous Players of the Stage production.

The all-adult cast takes on challenging issues in a performance that gets to the heart of human uncertainty.

“What do you do when you’re not sure?” asks Father Flynn during the sermon in the opening scene of “Doubt.”

Flynn is played by Brian Wendt, a previous theater graduate of Northampton Community College, who has performed in various productions including “The Mandrake,” “The Laramie Project” and “English Only,” as well as in productions with The Crowded Kitchen Players, and most recently with Macungie’s Global impACTORS Group in “The Tin Woman.”

Wendt said most of his experience has been with comedy, so taking on such a serious role had its challenges.

“The amount of lines, the characterization, having to play it gray - this was hard,” Wendt told The Press. “The play doesn’t determine the guilt or innocence of Flynn. How frustrating is that for all of us?”

Director Marian Barshinger also plays the role of Sister Aloysius, principal of St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx.

The year is 1964 and the entire plot is an ongoing discussion and reflection about the sisters’ suspicions of inappropriate behavior by Father Flynn.

Barshinger’s director’s notes offer some insight into the premise of the play and the hopeful take-away for the audience.

“Sister Aloysius speaks about the importance of vigilance,” Barshinger said. “She is right. Each of us owes it to each other to look out for others, especially the weak and vulnerable.

“If we do experience that uncomfortable feeling that something is not right, that something has happened, we must investigate until we find the truth.

“Father Flynn is also right. We cannot play fast and loose with another man’s reputation.

“We have to behave responsibly. We have to allow for doubt.”

The foil to Sister Aloysius is Sister James, a young nun and teacher at St. Nicholas.

She is torn between her duties and loyalty to her superior and her own progressive style of teaching, which is emulated in Father Flynn.

Sister James is played by Elizabeth Gahman, who has been involved in Players of the Stage since 2006 when she was a personal costume assistant.

Her onstage roles include Miss Prism in “The Importance of Being Ernest,” Kate Keller in “The Miracle Worker,” Rapunzel in “Love Labours Happily Ever After” and Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion.”

“My favorite line from the play is when Sister Aloysius tells Sister James, ‘Innocence can only be wisdom in a world without evil,’” Gahman said of her role.

“That simple sentence is packed with significance, for both Sister James and the audience, and I hope it makes others think like it did me.”

The small cast is rounded out by Mrs. Muller, the mother of a young black boy who recently began attending St. Nicholas and who is at the center of a questionable situation.

Mrs. Muller is played by Florence Taylor, a wife and mother of three who is making her return to the stage as an adult, having performed during her elementary and high school years.

She debuted on the Cedar Crest College stage in February 2016 in the musical, “Once On This Island” and will be performing with Northampton Community College Summer Stage in “Ragtime” this July.

“I am honored and humbled to be with a talented group of actors, stage crew and directors and look forward to more endeavors like this,” Taylor said.

Barshinger would like the play to reflect the purpose and passion of Players of the Stage.

“We believe theater should cover all aspects of life, not just the happy-go-lucky stuff,” she said. “Doubt and certainty are not the opposing enemies they may appear to be. It is a system of checks and balances.

“Doubt causes us to reflect about the beliefs we hold and the truths we invest in. Doubt makes us ask the question, ‘Have I seen the truth? Do I know it? Or have I been following a distorted truth, a lie?’”

The show is based upon the play “Doubt, A Parable,” written by John Patrick Shanley.

Proceeds from the performance will go to The Truth Home, a safe haven for women who have been victims of sexual exploitation or sex trafficking.

“Doubt” will be performed 7 p.m. June 22 and 23; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 24 at Relevant Church, 1080 Flexer Ave., Allentown.

Tickets are free with donations accepted.

To reserve tickets email potstickets@gmail.com.