'Proof' proves entertaining

It may be surprising to hear that a play in which most of the main characters are mathematicians is fascinating, funny and highly entertaining, but David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning "Proof" is worthy of the national attention it has received.\nAlthough much of the drama in the play revolves around the discovery of a groundbreaking mathematical proof, the production is very much focused on the emotional well-being of its main character, Catherine, played by graduate student Allison Batty. Catherine has spent a good portion of her 25 years caring for her demented father, Robert, who recently passed away. Now she fears that along with his mind for math she has also inherited his psychosis. \nBatty's performance as Catherine was very believable during the more dramatic moments of the play when she had to portray anger or extreme sadness. She did a nice job with her role in these instances. However, during less tense moments when she was having normal conversations with the other characters, I found her acting a bit flat. Perhaps Batty played normal dialogue without much variance in tone because Catherine was immensely depressed over her father's death, but I still felt more could be done with the ordinary conversations.\nThe other actors nailed the script and became the characters on stage. Graduate student Scot Purkeypile, who played Robert in flashbacks and dream sequences alternately, exuded madness and sharp humor. Purkeypile showed a lot of range in his acting by taking on a character so emotionally unsound. In scenes where Robert was coherent, he was a brilliant, energetic professor, full of wit and excitement. In other scenes, Robert's madness overtook him, resulting in shouting, shaking and crying. Purkeypile captured every aspect of this complex character. \nThe love interest, Robert's geeky but lovable protégé, a math doctoral student named Hal, was brilliantly played by graduate student Sam Wootten. Hal's awkwardness and long-term desire for Catherine oozed from Wootten's every movement and word. \nGraduate student Carmen Rae Meyers played the role of Claire, Catherine's concerned, overbearing older sister, very well. She was particularly effective in her role during the fight scenes, but also did a nice job in her attention to details. Claire continually straightened up and tried to take charge of things. Meyers' actions made Claire's personality come to life.\nA large part of what made this play effective had to do with the small intimate layout of the Shakespearean styled Wells-Metz Theater. Nearly every seat in the house was in close proximity to the stage. \nThe entire play took place in Robert and Catherine's backyard. The realistic looking and highly detailed house and porch lent a sense of permanence to the play. It felt like the audience was just an extension of the backyard and part of the action on stage. \nOverall, IU's Theatre and Drama department did an excellent job putting on Auburn's highly entertaining play about mathematicians and family. "Proof" runs at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Wells-Metz Theatre. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Saturday.