Review: "Red" by The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts

“What do you see?”

The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts is opening a production of “Red,” a play written by American playwright/screenwriter/film and television producer John Logan. The play is a story about the Latvian painter Mark Rothko, a painter living and working in New York.

After attending classes at the Art Student’s League and painting representational cityscape scenes of the streets and the isolation of its people, Rothko’s work became more abstract. His paintings were finally reduced to what he called “color form,” which were rectangular vertical and horizontal blocks of color on huge canvases. Layer upon layer of paint became a key feature of his art, intended to make his paintings “move” while being viewed.

"There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend... One day the black will swallow the red."
In the play, Rothko is in his New York studio in 1958/59, having been commissioned to paint a group of large murals for the exclusive Four Seasons Restaurant. He barks orders to his new assistant, Ken, as the young man mixes the paints, makes the frames, and primes the canvases.
After a few scenes where Ken says very little, he eventually brashly questions his employer’s theories of art and his agreeing to work on such a commercial project. Predictably the artist detests the rise of pop art and cannot fathom his assistant’s appreciation of a wide variety of artistic styles.

The two hander stars Miles Everett (Felix in “The Normal Heart”) in the role of Rothko and Todd Santa Maria (“Bare” and “ The Wild Party” in Brookfield) as a young man hired by the artist as a (fictional) assistant. It is fascinating to watch the creative process, although no actual paint is employed onstage, but the relationship of the artist and would-be student is what drives along the five scenes.

The older artist is portrayed as brash and high maintenance, barking orders to his new assistant. Everett is extremely believable in this well-defined and intense role. If Rothko is an artist tortured by his critics, Ken still suffers from some troubling experiences in his past as well, and Santa Maria is able to convey much of his thoughts with just a look, although he is equally strong while delivering his monologues.

The costumes designed by the cast members themselves match the characters and the setting of a cluttered art studio in NYC. The play is set in Rothko’s studio at 222 Bowery in New York City and is presented in five scenes with no intermission. Be forewarned that there is some foul language sprinkled among the dialogue of both characters.

Sherry Asch directs the two actors as with a thin paint brush, ensuring that each line is delivered with an artistic strength on the fine set designed by producer Andrew Okell. Lou Okell was in charge of the authentic props of an artist’s studio.

The lighting and sound design by Ms. Okell is perfect, especially the inspired lighting that continually enhances the fine performances.

“Red” opens tonight at 8pm and continues Aug. 14, 15, 20 and 21 with evening at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. The TBTA thanks audiences for wearing a mask at all times to be sure that they can remain open and continue to provide live theatre arts opportunities to their community.