Written by David
Auburn
Directed by Derek
Walker
Tour director: Tyran
Parke
FREEFALL Productions
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to 17 March
Reviewed by Len Power
14 March 2018
In 2001, ‘Proof’ won both the Tony Award on Broadway for
Best Play and also the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play focusses on Catherine whose father,
a brilliant mathematician, has just died after a long illness. In the days immediately following his death,
Catherine’s relationships with older sister (Claire) and young student (Hal)
are tested. The issues of sibling
rivalry, mental instability, trust and genius are brought to the surface with
an electrifying discovery in Catherine’s father’s papers.
This thought-provoking play has been well-directed,
originally by Derek Walker and by Tyran Parke for the current tour. All but the father character of the original Sydney
cast are in this touring production.
Former Canberran, Ylaria Rogers, returns to this region for
the first time professionally as Catherine.
She gives an excellent performance of great depth in the role of the
troubled daughter. Appearing mostly in
flashback, Gerald Carroll really gets under the skin of the father character,
Robert, and plays his conflicting aspects very well. Alexander Brown as Hal, the student, achieves
a nicely naïve quality as a young man with his own self-doubts and dreams and
Julia Christensen gives a strong performance as the well-meaning but pushy
older sister, Claire.
 |
| Alexander Brown as Hal and Ylaria Rogers as Catherine. Photo by Michael Snow. |
Set design by Jeremy Allen is attractive and
substantial. Lighting designed by Alex
Berlage provides a strong atmosphere for the outdoor setting and cleverly signals
the shifts in time as the play progresses.
Costumes by Christopher Pitcairn, based on original costume designs by
Caitlin Hodder, have been well-chosen for the characters.
The play is unpredictable as it progresses. The first surprise, occurring early in the
play, grabs your full attention from that point onwards. You’re then drawn deeply into the action and
really care for these characters.
Beautifully written, directed and performed, it’s a play you’ll remember
for a long time afterwards.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s ‘On Stage’ program on Mondays from
3.30pm and on ‘Artcetera’ from 9.00am on Saturdays.
