Incomprehensible math solutions could be seen scribbled onto the walls and the floor, and magazines scattered everywhere, a father and daughter duo could be seen talking intensely on stage in the BYU–Hawaii Theatre Department’s presentation of “Proof” from April 2-6 in the Little Theatre.
According to stageagent.com, “Proof” features Catherine, daughter of a deceased genius mathematician named Robert, and finds herself uncertain of the future ahead of her after her father’s death.
Actors in “Proof” said trying to find the motivation behind the lines and how to portray their characters truth led to self-discovery. Director of the play, Aaron Densley, said the play teaches an important lesson on gender equality.
The actor for Hal, Jacob Titus, senior studying communications from Hawaii, said being a part of the production was like a sanctuary for him during a difficult semester.
He said, “Just walking into the shoes of my character and trying to be as understanding and empathetic as I am towards him, it helped me get over and figure out the stuff I was going through or was experiencing.”
In the characters’ shoes
Regarding the characters, the cast agreed their personalities were different in comparison to the characters they portrayed. Claire, Catherine’s older sister, was played by Rachel Howden, a junior studying peacebuilding from Utah. She said she had a hard time finding a motive behind the lines she was given in the beginning.
“A lot of times, the character I play speaks very differently than I would speak in real life and a lot of the speech just doesn't seem superfluid or natural to me. So for me, it's important finding motivation for why I'm saying the words,” explained Howden.
Learning how to deal with other people who recognize your trials was what Devin Hampton, a senior studying accounting and supply chain from California, said he found by portraying Robert in the play.
“I think all of our first response [to trials] is to be kind of prideful about it, and either put up a wall or not ask for help and push it away or ignore it or just try to pretend like everything's fine.
“But [it’s important to] recognize our trials, weaknesses, and accept the things that are going on in our lives, and just be real with ourselves, and be willing to accept yourself. Also, to accept the help other people are trying to give you and recognize they're also imperfect, but recognize their efforts to help [others],” said Hampton.
Feminism and the plot
With the various themes present in the play, Densley said, “I like how honest it paints real relationships.”
He explained, “A lot of times there are plays where there will be a leading man and woman, and they fall in love. Then, they fall out of love and fall back in love, and it’s a happy ending. In this play, it might be a happy ending and it might not.
“’Proof’ is one of those plays everyone expects you to know because it’s such an important play.” He continued, “It’s a play that’s done in a lot of universities because it won a Tony and a Pulitzer. Every acting class does scenes from this play because it’s college-aged and the characters are in their college years.”
The play revealed how Hal, a previous student of Catherine’s dad (Robert), found a notebook similar to past notebooks Robert owned after Catherine gave him a key to her father’s drawer. Hal was overjoyed with the idea of another significant discovery in the field of mathematics by his professor, but Catherine chimed in saying it was she who wrote the proof, not her dad Robert.
Densley said Claire, Catherine’s sister and Hal doubted Catherine’s abilities. “I often wonder if Catherine was a guy, would the play be the same? Would people just be like, ‘Oh yeah, you wrote this? That’s amazing,’ and then play over.
“I think it’s super important we start having those kinds of ideas put out, that we support those ideas that women can do amazing things just like men can. This needs to be reiterated and emphasized sometimes,” Densley shared.
After portraying her character Catherine, Adrian Hernaez, a sophomore studying elementary education from California, said she learned how we should not underestimate ourselves.
She explained, “Catherine’s biggest problem is that she underestimates her ability and blames everyone else for the lack of progression she's had. When you have control over everything in your life, and you have control over how much you grow.”
Making sacrifices
Due to another production that happened earlier in the semester, the cast and crew of “Proof” were left with less than a month to prepare. Densley said during one of the shows the cast became sick for a week and had to push back rehearsals until they all felt well. He also recalled working on the set himself because of the limited time they had.
Nagyeom Jung, a senior studying communications from South Korea, said she eventually left her job to fully dedicate her time as the stage manager for the play. “At first, it was a little bit hard to make a schedule for all of us. [Densley’s] a professor, but he has a family. Everyone is working, but they have to adjust their schedules to [balance] their job as a student, employee and this role,” she said.
However, Jung said practicing for the play became easier between the cast and crew because of their love for each other. She said even though everyone was going through some problems or was busy with school, they all wanted to do their best for the play.
The cast encouraged the audience to be involved in future theater productions. Titus said you do not have to stand on a stage to be involved in theater. Hampton agreed and said, “[Theater] helps everybody. It doesn't matter [what major you’re in] because the principles and the skills you learn, and communication and listening to people, those things transcend the theater.”
Writer: Esther Insigne