Ayo Edebiri, Don Cheadle & Kara Young Star
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Broadway revival of David Auburn’s play “Proof” explores themes of grief, mental illness, caregiving, and sexism in academia through the story of Catherine, a young mathematician coping with her father’s death and her own mental health struggles.
- Don Cheadle makes his Broadway debut as Robert, Catherine’s father, delivering a commanding performance mostly in the second act, while Kara Young as Catherine’s sister Claire offers an authentic and witty dynamic.
- Ayo Edebiri, in her Broadway debut as Catherine, excels in lighter, witty moments but falls short in dramatic scenes, which affects the emotional grounding of the production, especially since she carries much of the first act alone.
- The production features a single-room set with innovative lighting and scenic design by Teresa L. Williams and Amada Zieve, complemented by original music from Kris Bowers, enhancing the play’s shifting tones and atmosphere.
- Despite strong performances from the supporting cast and the play’s enduring relevance, this revival is somewhat hindered by Edebiri’s miscasting, preventing it from fully achieving its potential.
