Catherine catherine, the plays protagonist, turns 25 at the start of act i. Proof study guide contains a biography of david auburn, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. David auburn wrote proof in 2000, though his play is set in the present. Daniel sullivans direction is, in its own way, as impressive as the play itself. David auburn it focuses on catherine, a young woman who has spent years caring for her father, robert, a brilliant mathematician in his youth who was later unable to function without her help. It focuses on catherine, a young woman who has spent years caring for her father, robert, a brilliant mathematician in his youth who was later unable to function without her help. Synopsis proof is a family drama that explores the relationship between brilliance and madness. The search for the truth behind a mysterious mathematical proof is the perplexing problem in david auburn s dynamic play. I cant find the play anywhere in the libraries around me and i need it so i can write a paper. It centers around the character of catherine, a young woman who has spent. Proof was captivating and thought provoking, a triumph of the writing david auburn, direction joseph houston and an impeccable lead lucy jane dixon. Proof by david auburn spring play brought to you by the sandburg theater department come enjoy a night of mystery, romance and a little madness.
It focuses on catherine, a young woman who has spent years caring for her. David auburn this study guide consists of approximately 65 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of proof. An experiment with an air pump by shelagh stephenson and this play, proof by david auburn. By laura milani alessio photo by robert kozloff as a student here, i learned i could teach myself enough about a strange subject in order to say something about itnot necessarily as an expert, but to be able to participate in the conversation. It received national attention, earning the drama desk award, the pulitzer prize, and the tony award for best play. Catherine comes to terms with the death of her father, a brilliant mathematician who also suffered from mental health problems.
Auburn returns to hyde park for proof the university. David auburn play, david auburn screenplay 1 more credit. David auburns play, proof, premiered in 1999 in new jersey before moving to new york for an offbroadway run and a successful transfer to broadway in 2000. It centers on the character of catherine, a young woman who has spent years caring for her father, a oncegreat mathematician now stricken with mental illness. Oct 20, 20 on saturday september 14th, 20, i saw a performance of david auburns proof the 2001 winner of the pulitzer prize for drama and tony award for best play by raleigh playhouse and theatre in corroboration with treehouse arts ensemble. In order to find the exact time of action, auburn requires the reader to investigate the script more closely. Tragically, he became mentally ill in his twenties, and he has never fully recovered. Proof by david auburn proof is a pulitzer prize and tony award winning family drama that explores the relationship between brilliance and madness. This is the main theme of proof, a play by david auburn and a recipient of the pulitzer prize. The play tells the story of catherine, a woman struggling after her genius fathers death. Suspicious, catherine accuses hal of taking one of the notebooks from the house.
Winner of the 2001 tony award for best play and the 200l pulitzer prize for drama. Auburn was on campus for the opening of the reva and david logan center for the arts in october 2012. The story of david auburns play, proof, has a countless number of lessons to teach about life. Proof by david auburn thesis reconciliation in the play only follows the presence of trust, rather than conclusive evidence.
The play is an intriguing story about family, truth, gender, and mental health, set in. Robert was once a brilliant teacher who made groundbreaking discoveries in his field. One of the most acclaimed plays of the 19992000 season, proof is a work that explores the unknowabil. He is the recipient of the guggenheim foundation grant, helen merrill playwrighting award, and joseph kesselring prize for drama. An analysis of the major themes in proof, a play by david auburn. Proof by david auburn 9780822217824 paperback barnes. Like her father, catherine is a gifted mathematician, and she worries that she might also have inherited his mental illness. Auburns parents, sandy and mark auburn, raised david in ohio until the family moved to arkansas in 1982. After spending some time going through catherines fathers notebooks, she and hal discuss her father and how much more there is to be done. David auburns play, proof, tackles the clearcut vs. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
An unexpected suitor and one lifealtering question. Winner of the 2001 tony award for best play and the 2001 pulitzer prize for drama. I saw the movie version of proof last year, and enjoyed it. Jan 14, 2020 proof by david auburn premiered on broadway in october 2000. In september the students come back and the bookstores are full. Catherine and her estranged sister claire must decode hundreds of notebooks left behind by their recently departed father, a brilliant mathematician. Even the mathematical joke, a song called i, is clumsily flagged in the hope, i suppose, that nonmathematicians will get it. Proof written by david auburn directed by vickie rozell production dates. Catherine gave up her life and schooling to take care of her father until his recent death. Proof uncovered playwright david auburn explores math. On a cold winter day in hyde park, much like one portrayed in a pivotal scene of his play proof, david auburn, ab91. Mar 05, 2001 proof is the winner of the 2001 pulitzer prize for drama. Near the end of act i, scene 1, hal reads catherine a note from one of roberts journals. There are a few varying themes throughout the play, including, genius and madness, the power of heredity vs the power of free will as well as the belief in the proof versus belief in simple trust.
Its been a long time since broadway has seen the debut of a new play the quality of proof, and even longer since it has welcomed the debut of a new playwright as talented and promising as david auburn. Mar 05, 2001 then there are two plays produced by the manhattan theater club. David auburn left sat down for a conversation with court theatres artistic director charles newell to talk about the creative process for his tony award and pulitzer prizewinning play, proof. Proof by david auburn premiered on broadway in october 2000. Proof uncovered playwright david auburn explores math, mental illness and a familys sorrow misha berson, special to the chronicle published 4. An enigmatic young woman, a manipulative sister, and their brilliant father. The play is an intriguing story about family, truth, gender, and mental health, set in the context of academic mathematics. Proof by david auburn howell high school evening of scenes 2016 duration. Robby moore, director and board member of treehouse arts ensemble, directed the production. Set furniture plan draw, below, the set you plan to use for your scene. He is best known for his 2000 play proof, which won the 2001 tony award for. The months of cold equal november through february. The search for the truth behind a mysterious mathematical proof is the perplexing problem in david auburns dynamic play. The role of harold dobbs hal in david auburns proof a.
Oct 25, 2000 its been a long time since broadway has seen the debut of a new play the quality of proof, and even longer since it has welcomed the debut of a new playwright as talented and promising as david auburn. Its both exhilarating and a bit frightening when you turn your script over to the director and the actors who will try to make it live. On saturday september 14th, 20, i saw a performance of david auburns proof the 2001 winner of the pulitzer prize for drama and tony award for best play by raleigh playhouse and theatre in corroboration with treehouse arts ensemble. The daughter of a brilliant but mentally disturbed mathematician, recently deceased, tries to come to grips with her possible inheritance. Catherine a 25 year old woman who inherited much of her fathers mathematical genius, and, she fears, his instability as well. David auburn born november 30, 1969 is an american playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director.
Auburn graduated from the university of chicago with a b. Nov 25, 2001 proof uncovered playwright david auburn explores math, mental illness and a familys sorrow misha berson, special to the chronicle published 4. Starring anne heche and jeremy sisto, proof is a winner of the 2001 tony award for best play as well as the 2001 pulitzer prize for drama. Auburn contrasts the instability of life with the unwavering permanency of. The original broadway cast starred mary louise parker as catherine, and subsequently attracted several other famous women to play the role. With gwyneth paltrow, anthony hopkins, hope davis, jake gyllenhaal. Life is always changing and no one has complete control of the changes in their life. This 35page guide for proof by david auburn includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several. Auburn returns to hyde park for proof the university of. The play premiered offbroadway in may 2000 and transferred to broadway in october 2000.
Proof is the story of a woman who took care of her genius mathematician father david keller for years, as he deteriorated due to mental illness. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Educational material proof by david auburn proof is a pulitzer prize and tony award winning family drama that explores the relationship between brilliance and madness. The play won the 2001 pulitzer prize for drama and the tony award for best play. Suspicious, catherine accuses hal of taking one of the not. This study guide consists of approximately 65 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of proof. An actors approach to claire in proof by david auburn. David auburn s play proof premiered at the manhattan theatre club in may 2000, and opened at broadways walter kerr theatre on october 24, 2000. There are four months of cold, and four of heat, leaving four months of indeterminate temperature. Proof is the winner of the 2001 pulitzer prize for drama.
Jan 01, 2000 proof is a contemporary play by david auburn. Proof is a 2000 play by the american playwright david auburn. He is best known for his 2000 play proof, which won the 2001 tony award for best play and pulitzer prize for drama. David auburns play proof premiered at the manhattan theatre club in may 2000, and opened at broadways walter kerr theatre on october 24, 2000. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. She has spent the last several years caring for her father, robert, as his mental health declined.