Reviews

Proof by David Auburn

Only show reviews with written explanations

nick_jenkins's review against another edition

2.0

Apparently the only way a woman can be good at maths is by inheriting it from her father. Also she must have a reasonable chance at future debilitating mental illness.

Still, I would have loved to have seen Mary Louise Parker in this role.

laurasf's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

alisarae's review against another edition

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I listened to the LA Theatre Works recording (I like hearing the audience). It was ok, a bit "stagey" but I guess it comes with the territory.

shanviolinlove's review against another edition

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4.0

Interesting play, touching upon mathematics but more heavily upon familial relationships and love. I wish I could have seen a bit more of Catherine's character in the play than I did; her surliness could be interpreted in many different facets (grieving, result of years of burden caring for her aging father, madness, etc.) but to glean another dimension of her would have helped connect as an audience/reader. Catherine seems to respond to characters; she rarely initiated or produced any emotion. Rather, her aggression, her vulnerability, her defensiveness, her love, it is all an answer to another character's words or actions. Which is fine, except that she is the central character.

I enjoyed reading Proof and especially appreciated the different uses of the title word throughout the play. The dialogue is intriguing, believable - in my opinion - between the sisters, though I'm unsure how much I believed the relationship between Hal and Catherine. (Possible spoiler *** does a man really initiate a sexual encounter with a woman who called the police on him? Then again, such exaggerated actions could possibly be excused given the context of Catherine's position.)

thursdayghost's review against another edition

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4.5

not a big play girlie, personally, but really liked this as a “woman” in math

cantordustbunnies's review against another edition

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4.0

A great play with fascinating characters and an interesting premise that could have been fleshed out a bit more. The movie with Gwenyth Paltrow didn't fully do it justice. If the ending had packed a greater punch, this would have been a five star review. Ultimately I just feel like more could have been explored: whether that be the character's relationships with each other, the characters themselves, or the beauty of mathematics. In fact I sorely missed that aspect of the play....it would have been interesting to catch a glimpse of mathematical genius, to see a bit more of the high level math being discussed which could have been done in such a way that it didn't totally overwhelm the audience. I believe this was a missed opportunity. All this being said it is a very good play, highly engaging, with memorable characters. Worth reading/watching.

keshirkey's review against another edition

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5.0

My second favorite play. I've also been told by two different people that I would be good in the lead role. She thinks she's crazy, so what does that say about me...?