Auditions

Audition Dates: Sun 23rd Feb 6pm, Mon 24th Feb 7.30pm


Audition Venue: Fleigner Hall, 31-39 Highland Ave, Oakleigh East, 3166

Performances: 15-25 May 2025


Venue: Clayton Community Theatre

Rehearsals: 3 times per week, beginning 23rd March 2025.

NOTE: Auditions will be done individually, at agreed appointment times. Auditionees will be asked to read passages from the play, the pages of which will be available at audition.
It is expected that all auditionees have some knowledge of the play and the character that they are seeking.

Please contact the Director on 0419 537 871 re booking an audition, and to seek clarification on any details. 


About the play:



PROOF is a terrific drama with a highly successful pedigree. It opened in New York in 2000, transferring to Broadway where it ran for an exceptional 917 performances. It won major awards, including Tony awards for Best Play, Best Direction, Best Actress in 2001, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was produced by Sydney Theatre Company in 2003, and had the season extended due to box office record sales.
It has 4 characters only, each of whom makes a substantial contribution to the narrative; and is a significant acting challenge.

Synopsis:

The play focuses on Robert’s daughter Catherine, who has cared for her father as his mathematical acuity declined due to mental instability and illness. He was previously a professor of mathematics at Chicago University. Catherine has put her life on hold to care for Robert, while her sister has moved on to a successful career in New York.
Catherine is also possessed of significant mathematical talent, without others being aware of her ability, but also has concerns that she is suffering from mental illness. Her sister Claire, wants her to move to New York, where Catherine can start afresh under her sister’s eye.

Upon Robert’s death, his PhD student Hal discovers a ground-breaking mathematical proof in Robert’s office, which Catherine claims is her work. Hal seeks to determine whether the mathematical proof is intellectually robust, and then its authorship.

The questions arise – is Catherine capable of this work, and can she prove it?



Characters:

Catherine (F)

Main character in the play, onstage all play except for a few pages. Extremely challenging.
 To look around 25 yo, a strong actor capable of carrying a major role with both strength and vulnerability, and some rough edges. 
Catherine has put her life on hold, spending some years looking after her father, a former mathematical genius, who suffered from mental illness, and has since died. She inherited much of her father’s intellect, but people are not aware of her talent. She is concerned that she also may be suffering from mental instability, which is reinforced by her elder sister, who wants her to move away from Chicago, to be with her. Her situation is complicated by the presence of Hal, a student of her father’s, who is going through the mathematical journals in Robert’s home.

Claire (F)


Catherine’s older sister (around 30 yo), a pragmatic and successful business woman who left the family to pursue her career and relationships in NYC some years ago. On the death of her father, decides the family house should be sold, and tries to convince Catherine that there is a better future for her, if she moves to be with Claire. There is tension and noticeable difference between the 2 sisters.
 Substantial supporting role for a strong actor.

Robert (M)


Father of Catherine and Claire, around late 50s. Supporting role.
A highly distinguished mathematician, who was plagued by mental illness in his later years, and cared for by Catherine as the illness took hold. Recently deceased, but appears in flashbacks, and Catherine’s imagination.
The role is significant and requires an actor capable of carrying difficult conversations with Catherine.

Harold (Hal) Dobbs (M)


A highly intelligent PhD student of Robert’s who is sorting through Robert’s mathematical notebooks and journals following his death. There is a level of distrust, as he is not a family member. He has a complicated relationship with Catherine, which develops to a greater level of care and support over time, as he recognises her talent.