The Queen Street Playhouse (QSP) is set to transform its stage into a realm where the complexities of family, mathematics and mental illness converge. PROOF, a Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning drama, takes center stage through Feb. 18 under the direction of Jackson Clark Haywood, known to QSP audiences for his recent directorial work in Misery and Who’s Holiday.
Since the play’s Broadway debut in 2000, PROOF has maintained relevance, Haywood told the Charleston City Paper, due to playwright David Auburn’s clever exploration of family dynamics, mental illness and challenges faced by women in academia — which continue to deeply resonate with audiences. He quoted Shakespeare’s Hamlet, suggesting the play acts as “a mirror up to nature.”
PROOF follows Catherine, the daughter of Robert, a recently deceased mathematical genius in his 50s and professor at the University of Chicago. The drama centers around her struggle with her inherited mathematical genius and mental illness, set against the background of the family home in Chicago. Her older sister Claire, a practical and successful woman, distances herself from the family’s run-down home in pursuit of a new life in New York City.
The presence of their recently deceased father, Robert, lingers in Cat’s imagination and is explored through flashbacks of his mathematical work marred by delusional mental illness. As a revolutionary mathematical proof emerges with unclear authorship, Cat’s struggle in the male-dominated academic world mirrors her father’s. As the play probes the links between brilliance and its costs, Cat must determine if she is on the same grim trajectory as Robert.
Bringing the drama to life
Haywood reflected on the challenges of directing a play which, on its surface, appears to be centered around lots of dialogue and little action. “We spent a lot of time at the table talking about the play and understanding the nuances of Auburn’s writing so that we could elevate the conversations from ‘talking to each other’ to actionable events that allow this fantastic cast to confidently exist in our south Chicago backyard,” Haywood said.
Haywood recognizes assistant director and stage manager Matthew Willingham for playing a vital role in bringing the production to life. “[Matthew] has a keen eye for small, effective adjustments. The goal was to provide the actors with enough movement to heighten the stakes without distracting the audience, and I think we’ve found an elegant balance.”
When exploring the characters, Haywood said, “It requires four actors to be committed to telling an authentic story and leaning into the moments that require vulnerability and focus, otherwise the themes of the play seem trivial.” It becomes clear that both director and cast faced a challenge in transforming what initially appeared as a dialogue-heavy script into a captivating stage experience.
Characters with authenticity
After enchanting audiences as Cindy Lou Who in QSP’s winter production Who’s Holiday, actor Giulia Dalbec steps into the formidable role of Catherine, which Dalbec said is a dream she’s harbored since her introduction to the play years prior. Dalbec navigates the complexity of Catherine’s character with a mix of “challenge and reward,” she said, drawing from personal grief to infuse authenticity into the character.
“Heart-wrenchingly, I’ve dealt with multiple deaths in my life that relate closely to similar mental illness and degeneration,” she said. Trust and vulnerability with her fellow actors, Dalbec noted, were the keys to unlocking the profound emotional depth of Catherine.
Chad Estel, who portrays Robert, said his journey in understanding his character relied on comfortability between the cast and director Haywood. “Our director took a whole rehearsal to do a play analysis where we went through the events in the play, and that really helped me to understand Robert’s character,” Estel said. The cast’s chemistry, born out of laughter and shared vulnerability (as described by Estel), weaves into the fabric of PROOF, creating a familial atmosphere both on and off stage.
And breathing life to the older sister character Claire, Meghan Lowther taps into personal history too. “Even though we fought like cats and dogs, I would do anything to make sure my sister was healthy and happy,” Lowther said.
In the role of Hal, one of Robert’s former doctoral students, is Michael Okas, who expressed his delight in playing a character with nuanced villainy. “Hal is determined – for both good and bad, — he’s a gritty, funny, charming and brilliant individual.”
The synergy among the four cast members is sure to create a powerful and balanced dynamic that promises an emotional roller coaster for the audience. Audiences are invited to witness a symphony of emotion, intellectual brilliance and familial bonds.
PROOF runs at the Queen Street Playhouse until Feb. 18. For tickets and more information, visit footlightplayers.net or call the box office at (843) 722-4487.
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