‘Red’ Uses Stage As Canvas In Painting A Volcanic Mark Rothko

The most astonishing sequence in "Red," John Logan's 2011 Tony Award-winning play about a tumultuous moment in the career of Mark Rothko, the master Abstract Expressionist painter, is entirely wordless. It occurs as Rothko, a great bear of a man in middle age, teams up with his slender, boyish studio assistant to prime one of his enormous canvases.

A scene of immense muscularity and visible sweat, it has these two men rhythmically send great, slashing sweeps of blood-red paint flying. A vivid reminder that "art isn't easy," it is a galvanic moment in a play that is often a torrent of words. And Logan, whose drama receives its Chicago debut this week at the Goodman Theatre -- on the heels of its great success at London's Donmar Warehouse and on Broadway -- knew it had to be there.

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Comments

[wulfke]

02:33 PM on 09/27/2011

I just saw it the other night. Too much talking, not enough painting. Sort of Tom Stoppard with out the wit.

[Yaxchibonam]

02:00 AM on 09/27/2011

I wish people would stop trying to explain Rothko. It is what it is.

[3fingerbrown]

11:04 AM on 09/28/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrxxmuspoJM

[Yaxchibonam]

12:36 PM on 09/28/2011

Fantastic, thanks!

[Nelson Montana]

10:30 AM on 09/26/2011

And I'd imagine in each performance they can have a scene where he actually paints some of his pictures. How hard can it be?

[middleoftheroad]

12:15 PM on 09/26/2011

What artists do you like? just curious.

[Nelson Montana]

12:46 PM on 09/26/2011

Too many to mention. It goes across all genres and there's some that I love yet wouldn't want hanging on my wall. I actually like some abstract "sofa art." I do it myself. I have a good eye for it but don't have the technique to do more serious stuff. I see the whole Dada thing as like novelty songs or hot dogs. They have their place and when done well they hit the spot. But, it's not on the same level as true greatness.

[discouragerofhesitancy]

08:03 AM on 09/27/2011

Didn't you know that Nelson is THE arbiter of all that is said to be art on HP. He wields the immeasurable power of the ultimate in taste and ciriticism. Via telekinesis he beats down all others subjective perception and dictates what is art and what is not. After all, being an artist, author and composer is a heavy lift, but being the decider is an even heavier lift.