Past Seasons

While the roles of Rothko and Ken are scripted as being two men, the director (Sarah Andrews) chose to cast two women (with the author’s permission). I have seen the play performed the traditional way with two men, but the stakes in this performance were raised in a way I hadn’t seen. This was two women talking about only male artists and trying to make it in that world where they were not represented. A struggle that landed with me as a female writer, feeling the stress of “making it” in this difficult profession but also the added pressure of being female when most of the great authors that I am taught about are male. The stylized movement to show the passing of time, choreographed by Rachael Singer, helped not only to showcase each character’s individual personality and creative process but also that they are constantly changing and in flux just like the paintings. As Rothko said, “movement is everything, movement is life.”

Another stand out technical element was the lighting, helping to emphasize the passing of time, focusing the audience’s attention to the murals on the wall, and projecting a version of one of Rothko’s murals on the ceiling. All of which helped to encompass the audience in the work.

Maia McCarthy brings a level of focus and intensity to the character that helps the audience to share that same interest in the work, while also having the capacity to flip that focus at any moment if something comes in the way of her work. Kylie Jenifer Rose brings a nice contrast as the overzealous and innocent student, also being able to convey a great deal of emotion in her dance. Her movements were fully realized and heartfelt, more than any of her character’s words can convey.

Martha Harris  of Crave Theatre’s Red by John Logan