'The Bear' Star Ayo Edebiri Serves Up Transfixing Broadway Debut
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Thomas Kail’s revival of David Auburn’s Pulitzer and Tony-winning play Proof opens at Broadway’s Booth Theatre, featuring Broadway debuts from Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle, alongside Jin Ha and Kara Young.
- The play centers on Catherine (Edebiri), a 25-year-old struggling with the legacy of her brilliant but mentally ill father Robert (Cheadle), whose mathematical genius and instability drive the family drama.
- The arrival of Catherine’s controlling sister Claire (Young) and Robert’s former student Hal (Ha) introduces tension and mystery around Robert’s final mathematical work, which may hold groundbreaking significance.
- The production is praised for its emotional depth, strong performances—particularly Edebiri’s nuanced portrayal of Catherine and Cheadle’s complex Robert—and effective staging with Teresa L. Williams’ minimalist set and Amanda Zieve’s dynamic lighting.
- Kara Young, stepping in as Claire, continues her streak of acclaimed Broadway performances, potentially adding another Tony nomination to her record, while the entire cast is recognized as delivering one of the season’s best ensemble efforts.
