Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Proof?

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n2drama
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Joined: 4/08/08
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Posts: 24

Topic: Proof?
Posted: 8/23/10 at 6:50am

Is anyone familiar with Proof by David Auburn? It sounds interesting. Has anyone done it or seen it?

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TonyDi
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Joined: 9/13/06
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Posts: 325

Posted: 8/23/10 at 7:20am

I had the opportunity to run sound and lights for this show and viewed it about 20 times in the rehearsal and run. This is an excellent script, very well written, and a gem for actors who can handle the dialogue. It's great if you have actors who can deliver this highly technical dialogue sounding as though they know the math involved. I think the director had a college math PhD come in and explain it for the cast. It's got to be done so that they appear to know what all that math means. PLUS it has plenty of "meat" for the actors from an emotional standpoint. Small cast (4 characters I think) but a well written show. Has some cool possibilities for nice set design and lighting design. Very moody but compelling even if you don't understand the math behind it because the interpersonal relationships of the characters is interesting too.

While I never got to do the show I think it's one of the better things to come along in a while - that has some quality to it. Haven't ever seen the film version though I'd be interested to see how it compares to the stage play. As I understand it's fairly true to the script but I don't know that for sure. Just what I've heard.

Can't go wrong with this but understand while there are some minor comedic moments (not a lot) it is after all is said and done, a fairly weighty drama. After having seen it so many times, even though I am NOT astute when it comes to math, you begin to understand that it's more about the relationships of the people involved than it is about the math - which over the weeks even I was beginning to slightly understand, though it is heavy on that issue too since that's what it is all about.

I recommend it if you have the personnel to handle the drama and technicalities of the dialogue.

TonyDi

"Almost famous"

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jonplaywright
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Joined: 7/20/07
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Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:15am

As a play that won the Tony and the Pulitzer, it can't be too shabby. I saw it professionally produced a couple years back, and while I recognized the quality of the writing, I felt for whatever reason that I was less enamored of it than I was of another play with a short, single name: Doubt. May just be my own tastes. I agree that the math is more of a backdrop for the relationships between the people, but at the same time, it does tend to render the play weighty (cumbersome...?). Of course, the name recognition and awards would certainly bring an audience, I would think.

Cheers,
Jon

Co-Chair, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights
Resident Playwright, Final Draft

YouthPLAYS, plays for young actors and audiences
www.youthplays.com

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B-M-D
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Joined: 11/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 346

Posted: 8/23/10 at 3:24pm

I directed it about five years ago. It's making the rounds of alot of the community theatres in my neck of the woods. We did well with it. Audiences liked it and good talent seems to crawl out of the woodwork for it.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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Theatermama
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Joined: 7/23/10
Location: United States
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Posts: 60

Posted: 8/28/10 at 10:06am

University of Minnesota's Experimental Theater (Basement of Rarig Center) is doing it this year as my son is lighting it - not sure when it is due out, I think this semester sometime. I have seen it before though and it is a great play.

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Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
n2drama Player Joined: 4/08/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Topic: Proof? Posted: 8/23/10 at 6:50am
	Is anyone familiar with Proof by David Auburn? It sounds interesting. Has anyone done it or seen it?

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TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 8/23/10 at 7:20am
	I had the opportunity to run sound and lights for this show and viewed it about 20 times in the rehearsal and run. This is an excellent script, very well written, and a gem for actors who can handle the dialogue. It's great if you have actors who can deliver this highly technical dialogue sounding as though they know the math involved. I think the director had a college math PhD come in and explain it for the cast. It's got to be done so that they appear to know what all that math means. PLUS it has plenty of "meat" for the actors from an emotional standpoint. Small cast (4 characters I think) but a well written show. Has some cool possibilities for nice set design and lighting design. Very moody but compelling even if you don't understand the math behind it because the interpersonal relationships of the characters is interesting too. While I never got to do the show I think it's one of the better things to come along in a while - that has some quality to it. Haven't ever seen the film version though I'd be interested to see how it compares to the stage play. As I understand it's fairly true to the script but I don't know that for sure. Just what I've heard. Can't go wrong with this but understand while there are some minor comedic moments (not a lot) it is after all is said and done, a fairly weighty drama. After having seen it so many times, even though I am NOT astute when it comes to math, you begin to understand that it's more about the relationships of the people involved than it is about the math - which over the weeks even I was beginning to slightly understand, though it is heavy on that issue too since that's what it is all about. I recommend it if you have the personnel to handle the drama and technicalities of the dialogue. TonyDi
	"Almost famous"
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jonplaywright Star Joined: 7/20/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 53	Posted: 8/23/10 at 10:15am
	As a play that won the Tony and the Pulitzer, it can't be too shabby. I saw it professionally produced a couple years back, and while I recognized the quality of the writing, I felt for whatever reason that I was less enamored of it than I was of another play with a short, single name: Doubt. May just be my own tastes. I agree that the math is more of a backdrop for the relationships between the people, but at the same time, it does tend to render the play weighty (cumbersome...?). Of course, the name recognition and awards would certainly bring an audience, I would think. Cheers, Jon
	Co-Chair, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights Resident Playwright, Final Draft YouthPLAYS, plays for young actors and audiences www.youthplays.com
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B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 8/23/10 at 3:24pm
	I directed it about five years ago. It's making the rounds of alot of the community theatres in my neck of the woods. We did well with it. Audiences liked it and good talent seems to crawl out of the woodwork for it.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
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Theatermama Star Joined: 7/23/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Posted: 8/28/10 at 10:06am
	University of Minnesota's Experimental Theater (Basement of Rarig Center) is doing it this year as my son is lighting it - not sure when it is due out, I think this semester sometime. I have seen it before though and it is a great play.
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Topic: Proof?( Topic Closed)