From the moment it debuted in New York nearly two years ago, the critically acclaimed Proof was a hit. After a sold-out, extended run at Manhattan Theatre Club's Stage I, the play opened on Broadway in October 2000 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Now, under the direction of Daniel Sullivan, Proof has made its way to Boston's Wilbur Theatre, promising to wow New England audiences with its innovative, heart-wrenching examination of family dynamics and the unexpected twists and turns of life.
Set on the back porch of her father's home in Chicago's Hyde Park, Proof is the story of Catherine, a young woman who must come to terms with many things: the death of her father Robert, a brilliant mathematician; her controlling and estranged sister, Claire; and Hal, an unexpected love interest. Hal, a former student of her father's, comes to Catherine's home after her father's death and begins to examine the 103 marble notebooks he left in search of a valuable piece of work. What he discovers is a fantastic mathematical proof, which Catherine claims to have written. Her assertion tests the bonds of sisterhood and the romantic feelings that have developed with Hal.
It is no surprise that Proof is the winner of 11 awards, including the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play, the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the 2001 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. The production owes much of its success to playwright David Auburn. His first Broadway production, Proof is a stirring, emotional play that is includes sporadic episodes of humorous sarcasm that save the production from becoming melodramatic and tedious. He writes convincingly about the drama faced by the four characters in the play, creating four distinctive characters while clearly portraying the bonds that connect them. The different relationships between Hal, Catherine, Claire, and Robert are eloquently and carefully developed by Auburn, and result in a cohesive plot with endearing and believable characters. Auburn's work is creative, emotional, and compelling.
Equally responsible for the play's continuing success is the impressive cast. Chelsea Altman shines as Catherine, capturing the subtleties of the character as she questions how much of her father's madness she may have inherited. A truly versatile actress, her feelings range from bitingly sarcastic to emotionally distraught. She successfully manipulates the audience through laughter and tears and works beautifully opposite Terry Layman's Robert, usually played by Robert Foxworth.
The father/daughter relationship fluctuates between frustration and love. In a particularly memorable scene, Robert claims to have recaptured his mathematical genius and asks his daughter to work with him in this new research. Thrilled to think that her father has recovered from his madness, Catherine reads from the notebook documenting his latest proof, only to realize it is a collection of less than cohesive rants about the cold in Chicago. Both characters realize that Robert's madness is as bad as ever. Altman and Layman play off each other in this eloquent, emotional scene as Robert comes to terms with the loss of his genius and Catherine must realize once more that her father will never again be his old self.
Stephen Kunken, a Tufts graduate, is just as compelling and engaging an actor as Hal, a graduate student studying math at the University of Chicago. Kunken recently played the role in the Tony Award-winning production of Proof. He captures the inner conflict experienced when his love for Catherine and his love for math cross paths. He effortlessly shifts from comedic to tragic throughout the play, convincingly portraying both the stereotypical math geek and the sympathetic lover. Kunken's credits range from Off-Broadway shows to various television appearances.
Both the set design by John Lee Beatty and the lighting design by Pat Collins are impressive. Beatty's creation of the back porch where the action of the play takes place is thoughtful, evoking a feeling of antiquity. The porch appears as exhausted as the characters themselves, painted a faded green and chipping away. Collins uses lighting to convey the same emotions, creating a kind of haze across the stage.
Proof is undeniably one of the most impressive and memorable productions to hit Broadway in recent years. According to Auburn, the play is so appealing because audiences can relate to the characters. "We all aspire to be like our parents in certain ways, and worry that we are becoming them in other ways," he said. Whatever it is, the play's success is undoubtedly deserved as viewers continue to be amazed.
