Although I’m recently on break from writing, there are exceptions: certain shows will bring me out of hiatus. The show I experienced Sunday night was one of those very exceptions. Donning a simple yet significant title, John Logan’s play “Red” is gripping, poignant, and so very rare to the stages of Southern Utah, which is why — hiatus aside — I’ve eagerly decided to review this show. Because this type of theater deserves to be shared.
Combine a cast of two men, a minimal set, and a lot of raw, true-to-life experiences performed in an intimate black box theater and surrounded by lots of red paint and you have “Red.” Set in 1958, it tells the story of successful abstract expressionist Mark Rothko in his later years of life. We follow Rothko as he struggles with his work and himself, all while both he and his assistant work hard for two years on a commission that became the biggest in the history of modern art: to paint a series of murals for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York. His greatest accomplishment or most profound failure: Which one will it be?
The weighty role of Mark Rothko, played by the well-known local actor Varlo Davenport, was one of the meatier roles I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing: a successful artist encumbered by the struggle between finding some meaning and purpose to both his life and his work, and the sinking fear that there is none. Davenport truly connected with the underlying frenzied and manic emotional state of Rothko. This character requires a lot from the actor, and Davenport definitely delivered. Always committed to the emotional reality of the moment, Davenport ingested, breathed, and lived all of it — every word, every thought, every emotion. Just wonderful.
Rothko’s assistant Ken is played by newcomer Jesse Nepivoda, an actor who in person seems rather quiet and unassuming but on stage is setting the bar for fellow actors. Right from the start, Nepivoda expertly conveys Ken’s overwhelmed, intimidated, nervous, and somewhat scared state when first meeting Rothko. Never once forced, unmotivated, or disconnected, Nepivoda committed 100 percent and delivered a complex and honest performance that will leave you physically moved.
The set was perfectly minimal, gritty, and very intimate, performed in a black box theater that generally seats no more than 30–40 people with the stage and show right at your feet. It’s impossible to not feel a connection with the story and the characters. The simple yet haphazard set design truly enhanced the reality of the play.
In addition to the set, both the lighting and costumes were done minimally as well. The lighting was no more than that of an average room in a house. Simple and unassuming. The costumes were nice and understated, which was the only way to go. Anything else would’ve taken away from the overall production. However, what I found very clever was how the costume changes were executed: done on stage and visible to the entire audience, yet not once did it feel awkward, out of place, or even rushed. Again, each of these particular aspects to the frame and pace of the show allow the audience to lose themselves even further into both the story and the impressive performances of both actors.
“Red” covers dark, passionate, and intense subjects every individual can relate to in some way. And the freeing energy the actors create between each other and within themselves becomes quite contagious. I honestly found myself in tears more than once. It’s invigorating for me to see such refreshing, fearless theater, and hope to God I see more of it. Performing only till the May 29, your time is short to catch this amazing show, so grab your tickets now! You can reach the DiFiore Center and box office at (435) 673-4206.
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