‘Proof’ Review: Ayo Edebiri as a Math Girl, Interrupted
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The play "Proof," which explores themes of mental illness and mathematical genius, has been revived on Broadway at the Booth Theater, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle.
- Originally acclaimed in the early 2000s, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize, the play now appears dated, with its portrayal of mental illness and family dynamics feeling less compelling after 25 years.
- The story centers on Catherine, who struggles with her own mental health and the legacy of her late father, a brilliant mathematician, while dealing with her sister Claire’s push for institutional care.
- The plot hinges on a mysterious notebook containing a significant mathematical proof, which serves as a key narrative device but remains vaguely defined.
- The revival prompts reflection on past cultural romanticization of mental illness, questioning why such portrayals were once so widely embraced.
