Central Square Theater is a treasure I recently discovered. The theater is home to two theater companies that showcase high quality unusual plays. The exciting thing for people in STEM is that many are about STEM professionals! The plot is something that many South Asians who often have STEM backgrounds will really appreciate. I recently saw Proof, a play about the life of a brilliant Math professor and was absolutely awed by this Pulitzer Prize winning play. 

David Auburn’s Proof is a Pulitzer Prize winning play that explores the relationships in the family of a brilliant mathematics professor at the University of Chicago who in his early twenties revolutionized the field of Mathematics and later suffered from mental illness. Catherine, his second daughter, also a brilliant mathematician herself drops out from Northwestern to take care of her father. While taking care of him, she herself discovers a groundbreaking proof, a clear sign that she inherited her brilliance.   

The play opens with Catherine having an animated conversation with her father only to realize that it was a delusion – for he had recently died. She now worries that in addition to his brilliance she may have inherited his mental illness as well. The play explores brilliantly the relationship between the father (Robert) and the daughter. Robert is aware of the brilliance of his daughter. He wants to encourage her to attain her potential but on the other hand is afraid to let her go for she is his caretaker. The older daughter, a type-A personality has a successful career in New York and provides financial support to her father and sister. 

The play brilliantly explores the relationship between the two daughters, each feeling that they did their best to take care of their father while not quite agreeing with the other person’s view. The older sister is also concerned for the mental state of her younger sister and feels a need to take care of her much to her resentment. 

The trials and tribulations of brilliant academicians were beautifully dealt with. Their fear of being a loser if they have not done something spectacular at a young age, challenges of doing a PhD, fear of losing their respect in the community if they do not keep contributing significantly was all dealt with. 

A former student of Robert’s, Hal (Avery Bargar) has offered to carefully comb through an extensive series of notebooks Robert has left behind to see if there is any valuable work in there. During the time, Catherine shares her own discovery. An interesting aspect of the plot deals with how she as a young woman is not readily accepted as a brilliant mathematician and has to prove herself to the world.  

Michael Tow, as Robert, the professor, Lisa Nguyen as the younger daughter Catherine, Cheryl Daro as the older daughter Claire and Avery Bargar as Hal, Robert’s former student do a tremendous job. It was interesting that the director Aguillon assembled an all Asian cast whom you really believe to be family.  It Janie E. Howland’s amazing set was fantastic.

There are many other beautiful plays coming up. Do check out “Proof” and other plays at the Central Square Theater. You will laugh and cry and come out seeing a little of your self and your relationships somewhere in there.