Red
A play by John Logan
Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards
The reason to see the play Red is because of actors Pearce Bunting as Rothko and Ben Shaw as Ken. Their performances are a work of art.
This 2008 play takes place at the New York artist studio for Mark Rothko in 1958/1959 as he is commissioned for some murals at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City. Rothko has hired Ken to help with mixing paints, making frames and placing the canvas on the frame. It’s a real opportunity for Ken to work with and learn from an artist like Rothko.
I really liked the scenery designed by Carl Schoenborn. From my old theatre days working in the scene shop at the university, the stage felt familiar to me. The paint splatter on the floor, the rags, the drop cloths, the paint buckets, and the wood frames. I was like, this is definitely where art is created.
The Gremlin Theatre is the perfect venue for this play. I also like the information and photos about Mark Rothko in the lobby of the theater.
A lot is discussed in this 90 minute play. Some of the topics covered are art at the time, contemporary artists, favorite artists of the past, the rise of commercial art and pop art. The two characters do have art as a connection, but that connection is also what keeps them apart.
This is great play to to see. I was very impressed with the acting and the depth of the characters.
The play runs through March 1, 2026. Check out www.gremlintheatre.org for tickets.
The stage, before the play begins
