Shining its own light on a highly renowned stage production, Point Loma’s Vanguard Productions of Westminster Presbyterian Church is in the midst of presenting “Proof,” a 2001 Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning production, at Westminster Theater, 3598 Talbot St.
Director and Vanguard board member David R. Pearson said the well-written production promises to entertain, compel and impress audiences.
“It’s a great show, that’s why I picked it,” Pearson said. “[It’s] a really interesting mix of relationships and issues of insanity and genius. There will be some lighter moments along with the drama.”
Pearson said the storyline centers around a family of mathematicians and troubled daughter Catherine, 25, who has cared for her ailing and sometimes-mad father for the past five years. Following the father’s death, the storyline follows Catherine as she deals with some emotional fallout and peculiar findings.
“The drama kind of revolves around a notebook that surfaces,” Pearson said. “The main character Catherine’s real fear is, ‘Has she inherited her father’s madness as well as his genius?'”
Unlike the other 103 notebooks that her father scribed his mathematical theories in during his impressive career, the origin and author of a particular notebook is unknown to Catherine, according to Pearson.
“It’s a little bit of a mystery thing going on,” Pearson explained. “But this one actually has fantastic proofs that no one ever thought could be done.”
Written by David Auburn, the production’s 2005 film adaptation, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
“[Auburn has] been around for 10 to 12 years,” Pearson said. “He’s kind of a hot item as far as younger authors. It was one of his earlier plays and he got a Pulitzer Prize right off the top.”
For Vanguard’s adaptation, Pearson said, “It’s a very small cast ” four people ” [but] they’re all very strong.”
The Westminster Theater, considered a ministry of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, has been producing its own productions for the last 40 years, according to Pearson. He said the theater puts on two different shows each year.
The production of “Proof” opened Friday, Feb. 29 and will continue running though the first three weekends in March.
Friday and Saturday performances will start at 8 p.m., while Sunday performances begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military and $10 for children 12 and under.
For reservations, call (619) 224-6263 or visit http://mystage.in-fo/proof/.