Goodman's "Red" Is High Art

There is theatre thunder occurring in Chicago right now and that rumble you here is the massive applause coming from the Goodman Theatre for John Logan's modern masterpiece, "Red". This tight, solid ninety minute work of art follows modern artist Mark Rothko as he and his apprentice work to complete, what was at that time, (1957-58) the largest commission in the world. Rothko was hired to complete murals that would be installed at the Four Seasons restaurant in the newly build Seagram's building in New York. "Red" explores this fascinating world of what makes an artist breathe and the sometime hypocrisy that artists engage in to make their work seem relevant.

This two person acting tour-de-force features Edward Gero as the self-loathing artist and Patrick Andrews as his apprentice Ken. Throughout the production, both go on a journey of how art shapes the soul and how life experiences color the perception of interpretation, with Ken constantly challenging Rothko's vitriol of what art is.

Mr. Gero and Mr. Andrews are simply magnificent in their respective roles. As is inherent in Mr. Logan's script, each actor makes the other better as the play goes on. Gero and Andrews feed off each other as Rothko and Ken ascend and descend to understanding what makes each other define art so uniquely.

Director Robert Falls allows his actors to explore these physiological parallels without getting in their way and his immense trust of his actors pays off in spades. The performances are tight, dark, and full of humor and pathos all at the same time. This is one of the finest productions to be staged in Chicago in recent memory.

"Red" has been extended to October 30, 2011 at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. For tickets and more information please visit www.goodmantheatre.org