Willamette Rep's eminent photographer Clifford Coles has worked his magic with production photos from David Auburn's PROOF. If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you can enjoy a slideshow of 15 pictures.
By the way, thanks a bunch to our fabulous graphic designers at Helios for a wonderful weekend wine and nosh reception following Sunday's matinee. The PROOF cast was there (try to keep actors away from food and wine!) for a chance to gather and gossip with all of Helios' clients from around Eugene and beyond. One of the star attractions was actress Kate Cook's mother (in from Memphis to catch her daughter's performance).
In fact, it was the weekend for receptions. Following Friday night's performance, Secretary of The Rep Board Suzanne Bunker and daughter Amy hosted a party for cast and crew and friends at her south Eugene home (yep, wonderful food and wine again!) Thanks, Suzanne!
Here we go! Final week for the run of PROOF. Tell your friends. Bring your friends!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
RAVE REVIEW FOR THE REP'S "PROOF"
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Production gets to essential truths of ‘Proof’
By Dorothy Velasco
For The Register-Guard
Proof, the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play by David Auburn, is a mystery, a love story, and evidence, if not scientific proof, of mankind’s ability to learn and express compassion.
Now playing at the Soreng Theatre, the first-rate Willamette Repertory Theatre production directed by Pat Patton is thoroughly absorbing. Although the title refers in part to the mathematical proof of a new theory, you don’t even need to know how to balance your checkbook to enjoy this thoughtful, touching show.
Proof hinges on the difficult relationship between Robert, a schizophrenic, and his 25-year-old daughter and caretaker, Catherine.
Robert, who recently died but still talks to Catherine, had been a renowned mathematical genius at the University of Chicago. Sadly, he peaked at age 23 and later slipped into madness, spending his final years writing meaningless formulas in more than 100 notebooks.
Robert’s wife died young, and Catherine, his younger daughter, felt duty bound to drop out of college to care for him. Although Catherine is severely depressed, sometimes spending days in bed, the central pleasure of her life is math, which her father taught her since childhood.
Now Robert’s funeral is imminent, and his officious elder daughter, Claire, has flown in from New York to take charge of arrangements and tell Catherine how to lead her life. Hal, a former graduate student of Robert’s, is going through his notebooks to see if he was able to do any legitimate work during his madness.
Among all the gibberish he finds a brilliant 40-page proof. Did Robert write it? If not, who did? Hal and Catherine seem to be falling in love, but when she tells him she wrote the proof, he can’t believe it’s possible.
Hal, at 28, knows he’ll never be a star, but at least he has his doctorate. Claire tells him that although Catherine is a dropout she inherited some of her father’s genius. If she did write the proof, she’ll have a terrific battle ahead of her as she tries to overcome the historical prejudice against women in science.
Meanwhile, the term “proof,” applied to the relationships among the four characters, represents how people prove their trust, respect and love -- never simple even in the best of times. How do we pay our debts to family and those we love? How do we forgive and get beyond the wrongs we do to each other?
These are the themes that give the play such value, and which veteran director Patton and his excellent cast elucidate so well. The play is delightfully witty. And Patton knows how to let the humor roll out naturally but often unexpectedly.
The actors are all up to the task. Wesley Bishop, formerly with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, convincingly conveys Robert’s warmth and intelligence during his good times, and his belligerence and fears during his pitifully mad times.
Kate Cook, in her Willamette Rep debut, is dazzling as Catherine, so depressed from the grueling task of caring for her father that she believes she may have inherited not only his genius but also his madness. She can be furious at the other characters, and rightfully so, but she manages to pull herself out of anger.
Quinn Mattfeld, a former Eugene resident now working in New York, is charming as Hal. He is so eager to be liked, so desirous to make amends and find the truth, that we forgive him his petty lack of imagination.
Megan Smith, Willamette Rep alum who now lives in San Francisco, is very funny as the rigid, manipulative Claire, with her precious little gestures and smirks. She stands ramrod straight, and even her clothes are stiff.
All of the actors are wonderfully engaged with each other, using subtle body language to convey their constantly evolving emotions.
Nadya Geras-Carson’s set design is ingenious and symbolic. We see the back porch and back side of a decrepit two-story house. Like Robert, it’s falling apart, with whole sections entirely missing and other pieces seeming to float in space.
The evocative lighting is by Michael Peterson, the sound by Jim Rusby and costumes by Maiya Becker.
------
Dorothy Velasco, a Springfield playwright, reviews theater for The Register-Guard.
By Dorothy Velasco
For The Register-Guard
Proof, the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play by David Auburn, is a mystery, a love story, and evidence, if not scientific proof, of mankind’s ability to learn and express compassion.
Now playing at the Soreng Theatre, the first-rate Willamette Repertory Theatre production directed by Pat Patton is thoroughly absorbing. Although the title refers in part to the mathematical proof of a new theory, you don’t even need to know how to balance your checkbook to enjoy this thoughtful, touching show.
Proof hinges on the difficult relationship between Robert, a schizophrenic, and his 25-year-old daughter and caretaker, Catherine.
Robert, who recently died but still talks to Catherine, had been a renowned mathematical genius at the University of Chicago. Sadly, he peaked at age 23 and later slipped into madness, spending his final years writing meaningless formulas in more than 100 notebooks.
Robert’s wife died young, and Catherine, his younger daughter, felt duty bound to drop out of college to care for him. Although Catherine is severely depressed, sometimes spending days in bed, the central pleasure of her life is math, which her father taught her since childhood.
Now Robert’s funeral is imminent, and his officious elder daughter, Claire, has flown in from New York to take charge of arrangements and tell Catherine how to lead her life. Hal, a former graduate student of Robert’s, is going through his notebooks to see if he was able to do any legitimate work during his madness.
Among all the gibberish he finds a brilliant 40-page proof. Did Robert write it? If not, who did? Hal and Catherine seem to be falling in love, but when she tells him she wrote the proof, he can’t believe it’s possible.
Hal, at 28, knows he’ll never be a star, but at least he has his doctorate. Claire tells him that although Catherine is a dropout she inherited some of her father’s genius. If she did write the proof, she’ll have a terrific battle ahead of her as she tries to overcome the historical prejudice against women in science.
Meanwhile, the term “proof,” applied to the relationships among the four characters, represents how people prove their trust, respect and love -- never simple even in the best of times. How do we pay our debts to family and those we love? How do we forgive and get beyond the wrongs we do to each other?
These are the themes that give the play such value, and which veteran director Patton and his excellent cast elucidate so well. The play is delightfully witty. And Patton knows how to let the humor roll out naturally but often unexpectedly.
The actors are all up to the task. Wesley Bishop, formerly with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, convincingly conveys Robert’s warmth and intelligence during his good times, and his belligerence and fears during his pitifully mad times.
Kate Cook, in her Willamette Rep debut, is dazzling as Catherine, so depressed from the grueling task of caring for her father that she believes she may have inherited not only his genius but also his madness. She can be furious at the other characters, and rightfully so, but she manages to pull herself out of anger.
Quinn Mattfeld, a former Eugene resident now working in New York, is charming as Hal. He is so eager to be liked, so desirous to make amends and find the truth, that we forgive him his petty lack of imagination.
Megan Smith, Willamette Rep alum who now lives in San Francisco, is very funny as the rigid, manipulative Claire, with her precious little gestures and smirks. She stands ramrod straight, and even her clothes are stiff.
All of the actors are wonderfully engaged with each other, using subtle body language to convey their constantly evolving emotions.
Nadya Geras-Carson’s set design is ingenious and symbolic. We see the back porch and back side of a decrepit two-story house. Like Robert, it’s falling apart, with whole sections entirely missing and other pieces seeming to float in space.
The evocative lighting is by Michael Peterson, the sound by Jim Rusby and costumes by Maiya Becker.
------
Dorothy Velasco, a Springfield playwright, reviews theater for The Register-Guard.
Friday, February 8, 2008
THREE PLAYS IN THREE DAYS - TITLES SET
The 2007-2008 Readings in Rep are set. After much deliberation, soul-searching, lobbying efforts, bribery and threats, Artistic Director Kirk Boyd has settled on three unique and distinguished plays for our annual end of season extravaganza. Remember, tickets are only $10 per reading. Here's the list:
Friday, May 16th – 8:00pm
The King’s Proposal or the Marriage of Princess Guido by Michael Govier – is a ridiculous comedy telling the tale of a greedy King who tries to marry his daughter to an unwanted suitor. When the King’s servant, Guido, gets involved the play descends into mistaken identities, forced marriage, forced puppetry, cross-dressing….and swords!
Saturday, May 17th – 8:00pm
Inside the Coma of Wayne Morse by Steve Lyons – wrestles with the question of “why bother?” – an often-asked question in the current environment. The play takes place in Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland on July 22, 1974. Senator Morse lies in a coma on the day he dies. He is sharing the room with a premature newborn (played by a young man). The ensuing discussion of life and death between one man checking out while the other is deciding whether or not to check in is fascinating.
Sunday, May 18th – 2:00pm
Sometimes a Great Notion by Aaron Posner from the novel by Ken Kesey – former Eugenean Aaron Posner acquired the rights from Faye Kesey to adapt the Oregon epic to the stage. The result is a powerful tale told by eleven actors. Willamette Repertory will stage a full production as part of our 10th season and wanted the community to get a taste of how this remarkable story is told on stage.
Friday, May 16th – 8:00pm
The King’s Proposal or the Marriage of Princess Guido by Michael Govier – is a ridiculous comedy telling the tale of a greedy King who tries to marry his daughter to an unwanted suitor. When the King’s servant, Guido, gets involved the play descends into mistaken identities, forced marriage, forced puppetry, cross-dressing….and swords!
Saturday, May 17th – 8:00pm
Inside the Coma of Wayne Morse by Steve Lyons – wrestles with the question of “why bother?” – an often-asked question in the current environment. The play takes place in Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland on July 22, 1974. Senator Morse lies in a coma on the day he dies. He is sharing the room with a premature newborn (played by a young man). The ensuing discussion of life and death between one man checking out while the other is deciding whether or not to check in is fascinating.
Sunday, May 18th – 2:00pm
Sometimes a Great Notion by Aaron Posner from the novel by Ken Kesey – former Eugenean Aaron Posner acquired the rights from Faye Kesey to adapt the Oregon epic to the stage. The result is a powerful tale told by eleven actors. Willamette Repertory will stage a full production as part of our 10th season and wanted the community to get a taste of how this remarkable story is told on stage.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
CURTAIN UP!
Well, if we used a curtain, which we don't... but you get the idea. The first preview of David Auburn's Tony and Pulitzer winning PROOF is tonight at 7:30pm in the Soreng Theatre at the Hult Center. And don't forget, if you're coming tonight or Thursday, come a little early so you don't miss the Pre-Show talk by the Director and all of PROOF's Designers. That begins at 6:45pm both nights in the Hult Lobby. It's also a great opportunity to ask questions of anyone on the production team. We'll see you at the Soreng!
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