The M.I.T. community came out in droves to see the show, which Thomas Garvey of The Hub Review described as being “the first time I have ever seen M.I.T. life … depicted accurately on a stage in Boston … Truth Values is basically what Good Will Hunting pretended to be.”

But how did the M.I.T. math department react? Read below …

“I bought a ticket for one of the first performances … I just wanted to get it over with after so much talking about it in our department. I was expecting 90 minutes of complaints and instead I enjoyed a fantastic monologue with moments of pure humor, sadness, intelligence and struggle. Gioia has the brain of a mathematician and the heart of an artist and she combined them in a wonderful performance.” — Gigliola Staffilani (M.I.T. math professor)

“The play is entirely wonderful: very funny, and very moving, and perspective-changing. It was a particular pleasure to see a friend doing so extremely well at work that is so worthwhile. But I would have loved the play even if I’d never heard of the author. — David Vogan (M.I.T. math professor)

“This is an incredible success story, after all: Gioia’s master thesis (wrapped into great theatre) received more public exposure than any Ph.D. thesis ever will — let alone the attention of a departmental meeting 20 years after graduation.” — Katrin Wehrheim (M.I.T. math professor)

“Gioia’s story is engaging, entertaining, and personal — one woman’s path to find herself and her passions while pursuing a doctorate in M.I.T.’s math department. The depiction of the wacky mathematicians is both frank and sometimes timeless, helping us to laugh at ourselves and our little community, glad that we can now wear pink sweaters and short skirts without anyone taking offense.” — Jennifer French (M.I.T. math graduate student)

“The play explores the joy of being a mathematician, the pains of graduate school, and the path of dicovering that research isn’t the same as taking classes. Some of the topics she talks about are specific for women, some are specific for mathematicians, but I think everyone who ever had a hard time in their career and thought about changing it will find something of their own reflected in her play.” — Martina Balagovic (M.I.T. math graduate student)

The performances of Truth Values will take place next door to the Moscone Center in the lovely Zeum Theater, which hosts many Bay Area performances, including some of ACT, The American Conservatory Theater. Performances are open to the public. Partial proceeds of the performances will benefit the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM).

Why not make a New Year’s resolution this year to help out AWM and other women’s organizations? Come see the show and make a difference. Come and bring friends! Ticket information can be found here.

Also, the Hub Review just gave a “Hubbie” to the show for both Best New Play and Best Performance.

Some more fun links can be found here:

Under the Microscope Interview

Truth Values in the LA Times

Gioia mentioned in Bloomberg News

What the critics are saying:

“De Cari is an earnest performer and a snappy writer … sincere and entertaining … quick and passionate … she’s an ace at taking on the story’s 30-odd characters.” - Boston Herald

“Hilarious one-woman show … De Cari nails not only accents and postures but the presence of each of her impersonations … opts for the refreshing delights of humor, even compassion, and creates a rich and wry reductio ad absurdum.”- EDGE Boston

“Every bit as funny and serious and entertaining as I hoped … sharp and funny … like the best monologists, De Cari balances the deeper story arc with a steady stream of funny bits.” - HubArts.com

“De Cari is an appealing and nimble-witted performer, showcasing her versatility … as she races barefoot about the stage.” - Boston Globe

Boston Globe interview with Gioia

Truth Values wins FringeNYC 2009 Overall Excellence Award!

An interview, with appropriate “Fringe attitude,” in FringeNYC Propaganda.

And check out some fun blog entries on the show at its next home, the Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA, just across the river from Boston, just five minutes up the road from MIT:

A wild ride: Opening the show at FringeNYC
An in-depth interview
Barack Obama jokes about Larry Summers