Proof at Kechi Playhouse

The cast of "Proof" (L-R): Andrew Johnson as Hal, Amanda Dahna as Catherine, Kevin Dickson as Robert, Charlene Grinsell as Claire

A math proof defines the course of a young woman’s life in this Pulitzer Prize winning drama.

Twenty-five-year-old Catherine has put her ambitions on hold to care for her father, Robert, a brilliant but unstable math genius. When he dies, she must grapple with far more than her grief. There’s Hal, her father’s former protege, who shows romantic interest in her…as well as a determination to unearth valuable work from the 103 notebooks Robert left behind. There’s her older sister, Claire, who swoops in from out of town to arrange Catherine’s future as neatly and efficiently as she does everything else.

Underlying it all is Catherine’s fear that she may have inherited her father’s mental instability. But has she inherited his genius as well?

The fine line between madness and genius is one of the themes of “Proof,” playing Sept. 30 - Oct. 23 at the Kechi Playhouse. Written by David Auburn, the play won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. In 2005, it was adapted into a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hope Davis.

“It’s a lovely script and one that hasn’t been done recently in town,” said director and producer Misty Maynard. “It offers the actors a lot to work with. It offers me as a director a lot to work with. It creates so many things for the audience to think about, and is tied to realistic situations that a lot of us have been through.”

While a math proof serves as the catalyst for the action, the play is not about math so much as complex relationships: ailing parent and caretaker child, the challenge of navigating trust with a new love, and care and rivalry between siblings.

These multi-layered relationships, along with a blend of drama, intrigue and comedic moments, make “Proof” a unique challenge for the four-person cast. This production features Amanda Dahna as Catherine, Kevin Dickson as Robert, Andrew Johnson as Hal, and Charlene Grinsell as Claire.

“I feel that we have some of the finest actors in town in this show,” said Maynard. “Seeing the art of acting done well is a treat. They’re relating well to one another, they understand their characters, and it’s just very enjoyable to watch them work.”

This production concludes Kechi Playhouse’s 34th season. The Playhouse produces five shows each season from May to October.

“We just love our audience and we’d be glad to have them come out and see this,” said Maynard. “We’ve worked hard and it’s really going to be a great show.”