Proof

By: David Auburn

Narrated by: Anne Heche, Jeremy Sisto, full cast

An enigmatic young woman. A manipulative sister. Their brilliant father. An unexpected suitor. One life-altering question. The search for the truth behind a mysterious mathematical proof is the perplexing problem in David Auburn's dynamic play. Starring Anne Heche and Jeremy Sisto, Proof is a winner of the 2001 Tony award for Best Play as well as the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Includes an interview with Dr. Carrie Bearden, a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California-Los Angeles. Dr. Bearden is working to identify brain-based traits that may provide clues as to the underlying causes of psychosis and bipolar disorder. She joined us to talk about the role of heredity in mental illness and the links between genius and madness.

Also includes an interview with Steven Strogatz, a professor at the Cornell University School of Theoretical and Applied Mathematics. Dr. Strogatz is the author of three books, including Sync and The Calculus of Friendship, and has authored a column on mathematics for the New York Times. Dr. Strogatz joined us to talk about popular stereotypes of mathematicians, math as a "young man's game," and the question of gender bias in the field.

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring:

Anne Heche as Catherine

Jeremy Sisto as Hal

Robert Foxworth as Robert

Kaitlin Hopkins as Claire

Directed by Jenny Sullivan. Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.

Proof is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. Major funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to enhance public understanding of science and technology in the modern world.

(P)2004 L.A. Theatre Works

Critic reviews

Pulitzer Prize winner, Drama, 2001

"A masterpiece that deserves a place in the American literary canon." (Time)

"A sterling cast interprets this brainy drama with passion and commitment.... The emotional stakes are high and are played to the hilt. The proof is in the listening." (AudioFile)

"A complex, often startling picture of life in the region....[Jones'] narrative achieves crushing momentum through sheer accumulation of detail, unusual historical insight, and generous character writing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Jones has written a book of tremendous moral intricacy." (The New Yorker)

Excellent cast

Loved the cast. Jeremy Sisto is always a favorite of mine. I liked the supplemental interviews about mathematics, brain science and mental illness.

Mostly perfect.

This is such good writing. I love how quick everything is. However, Catherine seems to be all the way up to eleven. It’s like she is at fortissimo and has nowhere to crescendo to. Doesn’t detract too much from the performance overall.

Had a bit of trouble with Anne Heche's voice

I had heard so much about this play over the years, and the play itself is as wonderful as people said it is. But I had trouble with Anne Heche's portrayal. Her shrill, strident voice really grated on me at times, as did the nasal, whiny qualities it sometimes had. It's obviously a personal preference, so listen to the audio sample first before you buy it.

Anne Heche is horrible

Would you listen to Proof again? Why?

I am sad to say I only want to listen to this if I can skip over every line Anne Heche says or have it replaced with Kaitlin Hopkins.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters display manic depressive tendencies and the script really speaks to that, maintaining a certain urgency in keeping with the characters mental state.

What three words best describe the narrators’s voice?

Anne Heche: Grating, shrill, overblown. Kaitlin Hopkins: Authentic, natural, expressive.

Any additional comments?

Kaitlin Hopkins is extremely talented, as evidenced by her wonderful performance of The Heidi Chronicles, which is also available on Audible. I have admired Anne Heche on screen in the past, but listening to her on here was torturous. She seemed to be channeling the voice of Katherine Hepburn (badly) as a manic depressive. It was almost immediately apparent and annoying. I soldiered through, hoping it would improve and at least got brief respites when Ms. Hopkins appeared. Robert Foxworthy did a great job as the father. Jeremy Sisto was good, not a stand out, but it's not a meaty part.

Anne Heche at her Core!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It can not be characterized an Audio-book it is more like a Play

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anne Heche for sure

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is more dramatically driven. Anne plays a person that is bother line between crazy and genius. She Rocks!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes for sure. it was trilling

A Nice Version of the Play

Like a radio play, the recording is a great way to familiarize yourself with Proof.

A stunner

Loved this one! A superior play, acted with great style and brio. One of the very best in the LA Theatreworks series. If you enjoy audio plays try this one!

Better than the Movie

D. Auburn writes a great play, and Anne Heche scores high on her interpretation of Catherine, the daughter of a brilliant mathematician. Her portrayal resonated with me more so than with Gwyneth Paltrow's. The rest of the cast hold their own very well in ensemble with Ms. Heche.

My favorite radio play to date.

Proof proves the theater is very healthy!

What a fabulous play! The actors are wonderful and the story of the losses suffered by the father mathematition, the genius of his caretaker daughter, her doubting, controlling, and absent sister, and a suitor is clever, sharp, humorous, and oh so good!

Anne Heches tone could not me more annoying.

Great story and nicely adapted for audio play. But Anne Heche?? An hour of that shrill, phoney voice was tortuous,