A small and humble theater in Daehangno was packed with people eager to see the hit play ``Proof'' by American playwright David Auburn.Some of the audience might have come to the theater to see TV star Kim Ji-ho, while others were attracted by the drama's Broadway reputation.
Whatever the reasons were, they seemed strongly moved by the drama, which delves into human relations, identity, love and finally belief through mathematics.
The Korean production of ``Proof'' makes good use of the reputation of the main actress as well as the drama itself. Kim returns to the stage two years after her latest work, ``Closer'' as the troubled 25-year-old Catherine.The play revolves around the mathematically talented Catherine, the daughter of a renowned Chicago mathematician who suffers from a mental breakdown and finally dies of a heart attack.
Catherine sacrifices a promising career to take care of her father in his later years and is gradually captivated by the fear that she might have inherited her father's mental illness.
Meanwhile, Hal, a former Ph.D. student of her father who probes through the posthumous papers of the late professor in search of mathematical achievements, which have not been proved yet, relieves Catherine's depression and develops a relationship with her.Her sister Claire, a successful New York currency analyst, returns to Chicago for her father's funeral. Self-centered Claire asks Catherine to sell her father's house and join her in New York.
When Catherine refuses the offer, a pent-up emotional rift resurfaces between the sisters.The conflict escalates when Catherine shows one of her mathematical proofs written in her father's notebook. However, Claire and even Hal ― who Catherine truly trusts ― don't believe her authorship of the newfound theory.
Catherine is blessed with intellectual capability but is as emotionally vulnerable as an adolescent and shows the conflict with Hal and Claire through her anger.
Kim plays Catherine as a tomboy as she faces up to Hal and Claire, rather than a worn-out and vulnerable character who had devoted herself to taking care of her father.
Catherine portrayed by Kim is too strong and overshadows the spontaneous flow of the drama. Without the sophisticated and detailed depiction of her complicated persona, this just leaves awkward ear-splitting angry voices.
The flashbacks of Catherine and her father are effective in revealing her authorship over the mathematical achievement and her intertwined emotions in a heart-felt way. But it is disappointing to see the play abruptly end up as a melodrama despite maintaining the tension between the characters.
In spite of these, the play is a breath of fresh air for an audience seeking the emotional touch.The drama was first staged in Korea in 2003 starring actress Choo Sang-mi and had a second run in 2005.