"Proof" great theater exists locally at Texas Rep

In "Proof", Catherine (Kay Ann Allmand, front) struggles to convince her sister Claire and love interest Hal (Kim Tobin and Ryan Schaback, back) of her ability to produce historic proofs of her sanity.

A dramatic story of genius and madness, "Proof" follows the story of Catherine (Kay Ann Allmand), a famous mathematician's daughter who struggles with herself over whether she will inherit her father's gifts or be devoured by insanity.

Leaving college to care for her professor father who is suffering from dementia, she is confronted by the confusing relationship between herself and Hal (Ryan Schaback), and a visit from her cold, controlling sister Claire (Kim Tobin).

The production, which garnered both the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and 2001 Tony Award for playwright David Auburn, serves as credible evidence of the great theater we can now expect without having to drive downtown, thanks to the Texas Repertory Theatre Co.

Allmand gives a stellar performance, embracing Catherine with the kind of depth and understanding that gets people talking. The struggle between man versus himself unravels effortlessly from her performance as we watch the caretaker turn mad in her pursuits to provide evidence of mathematical theories - and her sanity.

Likewise, Tobin conveys Auburn's Claire with great strength, helping to carry the cold relationship between the sisters throughout the production.

Performances by Schabach and Jim Salners as father Robert are also notable, believable and help round out perhaps the strongest production yet at the Texas Rep. Gripping, dramatic and bountiful of life and urgency, "Proof" is expertly cast, directed and produced, setting the bar for what theatergoers can expect from the theater now and in the future.