Proof

Synopsis

Catherine has cared for her father Robert, a renowned mathematician, through his mental illness for the past five years. His ex-student, Hal, discovers a ground-breaking proof in Robert's office but the question is posed: who is the real author of this brilliant work? Catherine struggles to solve this as well the most perplexing problem of all: how much of her father's madness - or genius - has she inherited?

Our Review:

20 February 2007

David Auburn's Proof promises much more than it ever quite delivers. A mathematical-psychological puzzler, a second viewing shows it to be a cracker on the former but less convincing in the latter: a sort of paler shade of Michael Frayn - one has only to think of Frayn's Copenhagen to remember what an explosive dramatic mixture mathematics and psychology can create.

Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winner - the original opening five years ago saw Gwyneth Paltrow starring in her first West End role at the Donmar - is, however, of more fragile, even evanescent material. A mathematical genius who loses his mental abilities, a daughter who cares for him while teetering herself on the brink of genius or similar instability, some sibling rivalry and a young academic who fails to show sufficient trust - Auburn's ingredients are delicate flowers that at any moment threaten, theatrically, to implode before our eyes.

Birmingham Stage Company's transferred product...

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Latest User Review

rachel - 11 March 2007:

If it had ended at the interval I would have given this a four or five, but it ran out of steam a bit in the second half. And the relationship between the sisters in particular was not very satisfactorily resolved. Not helped by the fact that the constant throb of dance music (I assume from a bar or club next door) could be heard for the final couple of scenes. Still, strong acting. And if you know anything about maths, US academia or mental illness you should enjoy it (although my psychiatrist partner wasn't quite convinced by the pattern taken by the illness). Overall it was a last minute decision to see this and I'm glad I did....

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