Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Chisa Hutchinson’s solo show PROOF OF LOVE is slight but affecting

• By drediman
• June 15, 2019
• No Comments

Brenda Pressley in Audible Theater and New York Theatre Workshop’s co-production of “Proof of Love” by Chisa Hutchinson at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Earlier this week, I caught Chisa Hutchinson’s new play Proof of Love at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre. The piece – a co-production between Audible Theater and New York Theatre Workshop – tells the story of Constance, an upper class black woman whose husband has suffered a life-threatening car accident. After the accident, Constance discovers her comatose husband’s infidelity, which leads her to question her marriage, and by extension, the world and herself.

The play continues Audible Theater’s string of enticing solo shows. Previous offerings have included Carey Mulligan in Girls & Boys and Billy Crudup in Harry Clarke. Although there’s something inherently awkward about setting solo shows in naturalistic settings (Proof of Love takes place in a nicely-detailed hospital room) – e.g., the commingling of internal monologue and external dialogue often doesn’t ring true – I nonetheless found Ms. Hutchinson’s play affecting, if somewhat contrived. Particularly, her exploration of our countless misunderstandings of one another, a pursuit that refreshingly transcends race, is compelling.

Despite the Proof of Love‘s slight stature (the play only runs a brief and speedy 70 minutes), director Jade King Carroll does well to give the play shape and a feeling of completeness. As Constance, veteran stage actress Brenda Pressley is giving an excellent, thoroughly professional performance. She provides the character with the requisite cool, affected exterior of a snobby woman with wealth to spare. Slowly but surely, however, Ms. Pressley skillfully – and ultimately, endearing – let’s us in. By the time the play ends, you can’t help but cheer her on. You don’t have much longer to catch this one. The production concludes its run this weekend.

RECOMMENDED

PROOF OF LOVE
Off-Broadway, Play
Audible Theatre at the Minetta Lane Theatre
1 hour, 10 minutes (without an intermission)
Through June 16