Proof

By David Auburn.

On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s madness—or genius—will she inherit?

PERFORMANCE DATES: February 7-9 & 13-16, 2025

Casting 2 adult men and 2 adult women

Catherine (Mid-Twenties)

The daughter of a recently deceased, esteemed mathematician. She is gifted in her own right but fears she will inherit the same mental illness that plagued her father in his final days. Despite her mathematical brilliance, Catherine spends much of her time idle and depressed. She has a sharp and biting wit that she uses against those that upset her. Her intense defensiveness springs from a crippling fear of failure and decline. She is hyper-logical, and often denies herself the simple pleasures of self-care.

Hal (Late 20s-Early 30s)

A former, devoted student of Robert’s who wishes to search through his mentor’s work. Despite a budding romantic relationship with Catherine, he remains doubtful of Catherine’s mathematical genius throughout the play. Hal is lovable, nerdy, but a little sexist in his preconceptions and his perception of Catherine. He plays in a geeky band with other mathematicians.

Claire (Late 20s-Early 30s)

Catherine's practical and unimaginative sister. Claire lives in New York City and has a successful career, having gotten away from her family. Her care for her sister and her desire to help Catherine is blunt and often intrusive. Rather than recognize that she and her sister want different things, she pathologizes their differences and makes decisions for Catherine. Claire is the closest thing the play has to an antagonist, even though she is acting from a pure-hearted and well-intentioned place. She just wants to help her sister get better, even if her methods are aggressive and unwanted.

Robert (Mid-To-Late 50s)

Robert is Catherine and Claire's father. A brilliant mathematician, he completely changed the field by his mid-twenties. In his later years, his mental health took a turn for the worse, as he became more and more prone to delusion. He is a tragic figure in the play, but he is also a brilliant force and a beloved father. Of all the people in Catherine's life, he is the one who believed in her the most.

Presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. www.dramatists.com