Searching for elegance

Lesley Ariel Tutnick (L) and Tony Hodges in Proof at Theatre Artists Studio. Photo by Mark Gluckman.

One porch, four people. That’s the deal for most of David Auburn’s “Proof,” a play that considers family foibles in the context of mental illness. There’s a dad whose mathematical genius falls prey to disorganized thinking, a daughter whose talents get tucked away while caring for her father, a sister who vacillates between avoiding family problems and swooping in to fix them, and a man whose life intersects with all three.

“Proof” earned the 2001 Tony Award for best play and a Pulitzer Prize in drama, and was produced during the 2002/3 season by Arizona Theatre Company. I first saw the piece performed by ATC at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, and admit it felt a rather dizzying affair. We were in the grips of dealing with mental illness close to home, which has a way of clouding everything you see and do.

So I was thrilled to get a second chance to experience the work on stage during Saturday night’s performance of “Proof” at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. They’re presenting an “Equity Members’ Project Code Production,” which gives Actors’ Equity Association members eager to hone and spotlight their talents a chance to mount works together for local audiences.

“Proof,” directed by Dominik Rebilas, is being performed at Theatre Artists Studio through November 4. Rebilas plays mathematics student Hal, shares sound design duties with Terry Youngren Hanson, and tackles set design for this production. He’s the sole cast member who’s not a member of AEA. Other cast members are Tony Hodges (Robert), Lesley Ariel Tutnick (Catherine) and Andrea Dovner (Claire).

Andrea Dovner (L) and Lesley Ariel Tutnick in Proof at Theatre Artists Studio. Photo by Mark Gluckman.

Though the set for “Proof” is perfectly lovely, featuring windows with neatly symmetrical sections that convey the precision of mathematical musings, it feels a bit too polished. Only a pair of dead plants on tidy trellises hint at the decaying mind of the man who lives in the house shared by a daughter not prone to perfect housekeeping. A grittier, edgier set — with less uniformely bright lighting — would better demonstrate the darkness in these characters’ lives.

Though I didn’t feel much of the tension present when people grapple with their own or others’ symptoms, this production of “Proof” elevates another aspect of the play I hadn’t fully appreciated the first time around — family dynamics. This cast nimbly executes the verbal and physical language of everyday dysfunction. Think boundary issues and beyond. You don’t need experience with mental illness to appreciate this production. Having a family will do the trick.

Despite the sometimes dark subject matter, this piece is rife with humor — including plenty of one-liners. Some of the best riffs poke fun at pasta, student/teacher relationships, regional quirks of NYC and Chicago types, and rumored math geek pastimes.

But “Proof” raises serious questions too. Why are some fields so dominated by men? How much of who we are is inherited? How much should children sacrifice when caring for a parent? Can proof substitute for trust? Is making muffins a recipe for recovery?

Lesley Ariel Tutnick (L) and Dominik Rebilas in Proof at Theatre Artists Studio. Photo by Mark Gluckman.

The play also demonstrates ways that mathematical, scientific thinking informs problems populated by people rather than numbers. Think backing off a problem and returning to it later with fresh eyes.

The production staff for “Proof” includes Lorraine Bousard (assistant director, stage manager, props), Joe Bousard (original music) and the cast (costumes). Periodic bursts of piano music capture the changing moods of various characters, but would have been more effective played live on a piano set within or beside the set. In mathematics-speak, live music would have been “more elegant.”

As the holiday season approaches, “Proof” is a perfect reminder of the perils punctuating family gatherings. Those who rock the passive aggressive vibe should grab the most dysfunctional family members they can find, and take  them along for an evening of “Proof.” It’s said that laughter is the best medicine, but laughing at ourselves just might be the cure.

— Lynn

Note: Click here for information on “The Time of Our Lives,” a Theatre Artists Studio fundraiser taking place at 6pm on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Coming up: The best meatpies in London

Updated with photos 10/22/12

Math meets mental illness

Jonathan Shew, Kendra Kassebaum and Joe Cassidy from Next to Normal production by Arizona Theatre Company. Photo: Tim Fuller/ATC

The math surrounding mental illness is startling. Experts report that 1 in 5 Americans are living with a mental health disorder, something you’ll likely hear more about in coming days as mental health advocates recognize National Mental Health Awareness Week, established by Congress in 1990. It’s held the first full week in October, and runs Oct. 7-13 this year.

A pair of theater works heading to Valley stages this month are especially well-timed. Arizona Theatre Company performs “Next to Normal” Oct. 11-28 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. It’s a musical that imagines the life of a family facing both a mother’s bipolar illness and the death of a young son. Theatre Artists Studio performs “Proof” Oct. 19-Nov. 4 at its Scottsdale studio. The play imagines the adult daughter of a mathematical genius wondering whether she’s inherited her father’s madness.

Actress Glenn Close advocates alongside those living with mental illness through an organization called Bring Change 2 Mind. Her sister Jessie Close, diagnosed less than a decade ago after living nearly her whole lifetime with bipolar disorder, is one of two featured speakers (along with Andrew J. Sperling, J.D.) for a 30th anniversary celebration for NAMI Southern Arizona dubbed “Unmasking Mental Illness.” The event takes place Sat., Oct. 13 at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson.

The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) in Arizona presents “NAMI Walks” Oct. 20 at the Arizona State Capitol. Registration starts at 10:30am and the walk begins at 11:45am. If the math works, consider a donation to support the walk — or an organization of your choice working to improve the lives of America’s 1 in 5.

— Lynn

Note: Click here to explore ongoing offerings from Art Awakenings, which provides people living with mental illness with diverse arts experiences

Coming up: Dance meets dinosaur?, Before there was “Family Guy”

Jennifer’s marching orders

THE MUSIC MAN marches onto a Mesa Arts Center stage on May 27

If you’ve ever parented a teen, you know that some days feel like an endless parade of marching orders. And you’re not the one giving them. You’re the one getting them.

So it was last week when Jennifer announced I needed to cover a certain musical theater production in one of my posts. Marching orders from Jennifer are nothing new, though typically they involve instructions for cooking or teen taxi runs.

Jennifer is about as interested in musical theater as I am in plane geometry. But she’d run into someone at ASU who got to telling her about auditions for an upcoming production of “The Music Man” — and she offered to pitch a post on the topic.

Clearly, Jennifer did a masterful job of trumpeting this tale of music meets con man — because you’re reading about it now. It wasn’t such a hard sell, really, since the work is a classic in the pantheon of American musical theater.

It even features that most quaint of characters in the digital age — a librarian who helps people find and read books the old-fashioned way. There’s a whole other post in there somewhere, but I’ll save that for another day.

“The Music Man” is being presented by Mesa Encore Theatre May 27-June 12 at the Mesa Arts Center, but folks who purchase their tickets between May 9 and May 18 can see the show for just $10 (Use the promo code “RIVERCITY” when ordering online or through the MAC box office).

Mesa Encore Theatre recently announced its 2011-2012 season — which features an eclectic mix of shows, including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” one of my all-time favorites.

Other Mesa Encore Theatre offerings for 2011-2012 include “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” “Proof,” “A Christmas Story,” “TBA,” “Ragtime,” and “Hairspray.” I love this line-up, which feels like an overflowing buffet of all my favorite comfort foods with some spicy new dishes thrown into the mix.

Resident companies of Mesa Arts Center also include East Valley Children’s Theatre — which presents “The Adventures of Pinocchio” June 16-26. And Actor’s Youth Theatre brings “Les Miserables School Edition” to the MAC stage June 28-July 2.

Mesa is also home to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre — which performs “Smoke on the Mountain” through May 14 and opens “Seussical” on May 18. “Seussical” is an energetic bundle of charm that features favorite Dr. Seuss characters playfully proferring pearls of wisdom for all ages.

Mesa Arts Center welcomes several touring Broadway productions each year. Upcoming Theater League shows coming to MAC include “The Wizard of Oz” (Dec 6 &7), “The Rat Pack is Back” (Jan 10 & 11, 2012), “My Fair Lady” (Jan 31 & Feb 1, 2012) and “Rock of Ages” (April 10 & 11, 2012).

Jennifer will be thrilled that I’ve shared news of “The Music Man” and other Mesa happenings, mostly because I’m now free to fix her a bowl of pasta — just the way she likes it. Though Jennifer moved from teen to young adult with her birthday in April, she still likes giving marching orders in the kitchen. And I’m still happy to take them.

— Lynn

Coming up: “Stage Mom” picks for the 2011/2012 season, Spotlight on Desert Stages, Celebrating “International Museum Day”