BWW Reviews: RED at Everyman Theatre - A Riveting Drama

You don't have to be an artist or even like art to appreciate the Tony-winning play RED by John Logan. This is the second time I've seen RED having enjoyed the wonderful production in January, 2012 at the Arena Stage starring Edward Gero as Mark Rothko and Chicago native Patrick Andrews as Rothko's assistant Ken.

When I heard that Everyman Theatre would be presenting it I immediately thought that Bruce Randolph Nelson, an Everyman Resident Artist, would be an amazing Rothko. And I am pleased to report that I was correct. Nelson who began rehearsing the part while entertaining Center Stage audiences playing Groucho Marx in ANIMAL CRACKERS is on a role. His staccato delivery is mesmerizing. It truly is a tour de force performance. He is a gifted actor and his acting ability is simply brilliant.

Playing his naive (at first) apprentice is another member of the Resident Acting Company, Eric Berryman and a former student of Director Donald Hicken at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Hicken does a masterful job demonstrating how the role of Ken starts off as an impressionistic young assistant until working with Rothko for two years when he finally reaches maturity which leads Rothko to cut loose their close relationship to allow Ken to go out on his own and "create". It's a powerful scene.

One of the highlights of the evening is when Rothko orders Ken to help "prep" a canvas. The two of them do this as if they are in a competition and the choreography is just plain wonderful.

Daniel Ettinger is responsbile for the realistic set. I've had an opportunity to visit an artist's studio belonging to Baltimore's Raoul Middleman and his studio is very similar. Neil McFadden does a splendid job with the sound. I especially enjoyed Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". This choice was predictable since Rothko was commissioned to contribute his art for the famous "Four Seasons" restaurant in New York.

I've always enjoyed learning about the "process" of any work of art, whether it's theater, dance, or painting. What goes through an artist's mind when he looks at that "blank page or canvas" as George Seurat says in Stephen Sondheim's wonderful musical SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (coming to the Signature Theatre in August, 2014).

The ninety-minute intermissionless play flies by. You won't ever look at your watch. There is so much going on in this powerful play.

I do believe one will enjoy the play more by reading about Rothko and seeing his work prior to attending RED. But if you don't, there is plenty of material in the program thanks to Dramaturg Naomi Greenberg-Slovin.

RED continues until December 8, 2013. For tickets, call 410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

Everyman's Winter Gala will be December 7, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Titled "Paint the Town Red" it is in honor of RED's Director, and Chair of the Theatre Department of the Baltimore School for the Arts, Donald Hicken. The event will be at the theater. Tickets are $325. For tickets, call 443-615-7055 X7123 or visit www.everymantheatre.org/events/wintergala.

Next at the Everyman will be Beth Henley's CRIMES OF THE HEART running January 8 to February 2, 2014.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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