- Proof (play)
Infobox Play
name = Proof
image_size = 160px
writer =David Auburn
characters = Catherine
Robert
Hal
Claire
setting =University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
premiere =23 May 2000
place =Manhattan Theatre Club New York City, New York
orig_lang = English
subject =
genre =Drama
web =
playbill =
ibdb_id = 10304__NOTOC__"Proof" is a play byDavid Auburn originally produced by theManhattan Theatre Club onMay 23 ,2000 . It then went to Broadway onOctober 24 ,2000 at theWalter Kerr Theatre . Directed byDaniel J. Sullivan , withMary-Louise Parker as Catherine,Larry Bryggman as Robert,Ben Shenkman as Hal, andJohanna Day as Claire.Mary-Louise Parker won theTony Award for her performance. Later during the Broadway run,Jennifer Jason Leigh (September 13, 2001 to June 30, 2002) andAnne Heche took over the lead role. Josh Hamilton andNeil Patrick Harris subsequently played the role of Hal.Plot synopsis
The play concerns Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius and professor at the
University of Chicago , and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. Catherine had cared for her father through a lengthy mental illness. Upon Robert's death, his ex-graduate student Hal discovers a paradigm-shifting proof aboutprime numbers in Robert's office. The title refers both to that proof and to the play's central question: Can Catherine prove the proof's authorship? Along with proving the proof, the daughter also finds herself in a relationship with 28-year-old Hal. Throughout, the play explores Catherine's fear of following in her father's footsteps, both mathematically and mentally.Film adaptation
Paltrow reprised the role in the
2005 film "Proof", which was directed by John Madden again. Along with Paltrow, it starredAnthony Hopkins ,Hope Davis , andJake Gyllenhaal . The film version added more characters, whereas the play has only four.Awards and nominations
;Awards
* 2001 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play
* 2001 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play
* 2001 New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Play
* 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
* 2001 Tony Award for Best PlayReferences
Further reading
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External links
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