Much ado about Proof

CREVASSES: Gwyneth Paltrow, Hope Davis and Jake Gyllenhaal star in a film version of David Auburn's play, Proof. Proof will be Evolution Theatre Company's next production. Picture supplied

Auditions for a production of Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing didn't work out but all's well that ends well, as they say.

Evolution Theatre's artistic director Dinna Myers is now to follow the success of the company's recent, well-received production of The Importance of Being Earnest with the Pulitzer Prize winning drama, Proof.

American playwright David Auburn's play centres around Catherine, the daughter of a recently deceased mathematical genius, and her own struggle as a mathematical genius and living with a mental illness.

After Catherine's father Robert dies, his ex-graduate student Hal discovers a paradigm-shifting proof about prime 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?

Throughout, the play explores Catherine's fear of following in her father's footsteps, both mathematically and mentally and her desperate attempts to stay in control.

“It's a wonderful play,” says Myers.

“I love the fluffy pieces like The Importance of Being Earnest and I like new pieces about community issues. Dementia and depression are huge community issues.

“The play is called Proof, not so much because Robert developed invaluable proof but there is controversy over who created the proof.

“Catherine's big fear is while she has some of the mathematical genius, she has the same disease as her father.”

The play is dramatic, and sad, says Myers, “but it's not a big bummer. It's sprinkled with wonderful humour”.

Hand-picked for the play's four roles are Hugo McGuinness as Robert, Danielle Siata, Susan Partington and Andrew Stevens.