Proof

De: David Auburn

Narrado por: Anne Heche, Jeremy Sisto, full cast

An enigmatic young woman. A manipulative sister. Their brilliant father. An unexpected suitor. One life-altering question. The search for the truth behind a mysterious mathematical proof is the perplexing problem in David Auburn's dynamic play. 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.

Includes an interview with Dr. Carrie Bearden, a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California-Los Angeles. Dr. Bearden is working to identify brain-based traits that may provide clues as to the underlying causes of psychosis and bipolar disorder. She joined us to talk about the role of heredity in mental illness and the links between genius and madness.

Also includes an interview with Steven Strogatz, a professor at the Cornell University School of Theoretical and Applied Mathematics. Dr. Strogatz is the author of three books, including Sync and The Calculus of Friendship, and has authored a column on mathematics for the New York Times. Dr. Strogatz joined us to talk about popular stereotypes of mathematicians, math as a "young man's game," and the question of gender bias in the field.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring:

Anne Heche as Catherine

Jeremy Sisto as Hal

Robert Foxworth as Robert

Kaitlin Hopkins as Claire

Directed by Jenny Sullivan. Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.

Proof is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. Major funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to enhance public understanding of science and technology in the modern world.

(P)2004 L.A. Theatre Works

Reseñas de la Crítica

Pulitzer Prize winner, Drama, 2001

"A masterpiece that deserves a place in the American literary canon." (Time)

"A sterling cast interprets this brainy drama with passion and commitment.... The emotional stakes are high and are played to the hilt. The proof is in the listening." (AudioFile)

"A complex, often startling picture of life in the region....[Jones'] narrative achieves crushing momentum through sheer accumulation of detail, unusual historical insight, and generous character writing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Jones has written a book of tremendous moral intricacy." (The New Yorker)

This recording was so helpful

I’ve been studying this play and listening to it while reading the script/making annotations was a great experience. I also loved that they went out of their way to help us better understand the play and the characters with the expert knowlegde of Doctor Carrie Bearden and Professor Steven Strogatz. Highly recommend you give it a listen!

Mostly perfect.

This is such good writing. I love how quick everything is. However, Catherine seems to be all the way up to eleven. It’s like she is at fortissimo and has nowhere to crescendo to. Doesn’t detract too much from the performance overall.

Excellent cast

Loved the cast. Jeremy Sisto is always a favorite of mine. I liked the supplemental interviews about mathematics, brain science and mental illness.

Had a bit of trouble with Anne Heche's voice

I had heard so much about this play over the years, and the play itself is as wonderful as people said it is. But I had trouble with Anne Heche's portrayal. Her shrill, strident voice really grated on me at times, as did the nasal, whiny qualities it sometimes had. It's obviously a personal preference, so listen to the audio sample first before you buy it.

Anne Heche is horrible

Would you listen to Proof again? Why?

I am sad to say I only want to listen to this if I can skip over every line Anne Heche says or have it replaced with Kaitlin Hopkins.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters display manic depressive tendencies and the script really speaks to that, maintaining a certain urgency in keeping with the characters mental state.

What three words best describe the narrators’s voice?

Anne Heche: Grating, shrill, overblown. Kaitlin Hopkins: Authentic, natural, expressive.

Any additional comments?

Kaitlin Hopkins is extremely talented, as evidenced by her wonderful performance of The Heidi Chronicles, which is also available on Audible. I have admired Anne Heche on screen in the past, but listening to her on here was torturous. She seemed to be channeling the voice of Katherine Hepburn (badly) as a manic depressive. It was almost immediately apparent and annoying. I soldiered through, hoping it would improve and at least got brief respites when Ms. Hopkins appeared. Robert Foxworthy did a great job as the father. Jeremy Sisto was good, not a stand out, but it's not a meaty part.