It’s a GO on this “Red” At The New Jewish Theatre

John Logan’s two-character play “Red” premiered on Broadway in 2010 and won the most Tony Awards that year including the Tony for Best Play. “Red” is the story of abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko and his assistant Ken as they work on his famous “Seagram Murals” for New York's Four Seasons Restaurant between 1958 and 59.

The New Jewish Theatre tackles this compelling story well with the production designers stealing the show. Set designers Margery and Peter Spack create the perfect environment for Rothko’s artist studio. In the small black box theater they manage to generate the sense of a cavernous space with the murals themselves taking, literally, center stage. Lighting designer Jayson M. Lawshee does a beautiful job keeping the set dimly lit per Rothko’s fastidious specifications. The severe contrast when the lights are turned on brightly is especially effective. The costumes, designed by Michele Siler, work nicely simultaneously evoking working artists and, when outside of the studio, men who must deal with the realities of trying to make a living in the bourgeois art scene of New York.

Throughout the 90-minute action, Sound designer Justin Smith, provides the appropriate music from Rothko’s turntable. And the stars of the show are Paint Charge Cameron Tesson’s replicas of “The Seagram Murals”. Alternating with each scene, the actors move the giant art pieces to their rightful place, center stage.

Director Alan Knoll, recently seen playing Saul in NJT’s “We All Fall Down”, keeps the pace moving well for a somewhat “talky” two hander, which could be troublesome for a less seasoned professional. He cast his show well with Christopher Harris as Rothko and Dustin Lane Petrillo as the assistant, Ken. Petrillo is particularly nuanced in his portrayal and we see his journey from wide-eyed nervous pupil to combative antagonist adeptly executed. Harris is a perfect physical rendition of Rothko. His mannerisms and command of “his studio” are quite effective in creating just the right sense of what Rothko is struggling with throughout the course of these two years. Harris and Petrillo have a terrific on-stage rhythm especially in a scene where they paint a giant canvass together in a dancelike staging. Their contrasting characters shine in the rapid-fire dialogue arguing the various hues and meaning of the color red. However, I feel director Knoll and Harris missed a few opportunities to reveal more interesting layers of Rothko’s emotional growth which make the character’s revelations at the end of the play somewhat abrupt

“Red” is an evening well spent in the theatre. NJT’s production asks big questions about art: what it takes to create it and what its role should be in the world. It is a convincing look at the ever-changing relationship between an artist and his creations, as well as a compelling illustration of human interaction.

“Red” runs through August 11th at the Jewish Community Center. For tickets and information go to The New Jewish Theatre web site.