Don’t miss “Proof” at the Community Theatre!

Late in the show, Catherine (Natalie King) confronts the choices ahead....

I got a chance to see the dress rehearsal of Proof last night, and it is one you won’t want to miss.

The show has been described as a love story to mathematics, but I thought it was more a love story centered on the way we take care of our families, and the struggles that can take. When two daughters are sorting out their reactions to their dad’s passing, it brings to the surface a number of insights, and more.

The story focuses on Catherine (Natalie King) as she copes with the death of her beloved father (Mike Herber), who struggled with mental illness in his last years, and as she deals with issues of her own. Her sister Claire (Julie Greene) and her dad’s former student Hal (Douglas Schirmer) return to the family home with their concern for Catherine, as well as the things they need to work on in the wake of the mathematician’s passing.

This is a breakthrough performance for Natalie, as she is on stage nearly the entire time – she manages the incredible range of emotion & reaction that swirl through her character, making a complex person come alive on stage. Julie and Mike connect well with Natalie, making a tight family unit that has been through a lot, and still are working to get there together. Douglas is a delight, as his care & concern for his mentor’s daughter shine through, mixed with his sometimes nerdy but charming clumsiness. Director Merritt Olsen can count this one as a success, with good pacing & a nuanced treatment of the script that comes alive…it’s a good, experienced cast putting on a good show.

Great script – you can see why it won both a Pultizer Prize and a Tony for “Best Play.”

Get your tickets now…you’re going to like this one. Here’s more.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.