A couple of months ago, I decided to start Entertainment Saturdays to really deal with the overflow from Entertainment Thursdays because they really are just turning into movie reviews and I do a lot of other entertainment related activities. So in an effort to really get Entertainment Saturdays going here is my review of the Broadway show RED.
One of the many reasons I was excited to move to New York City was because I L.O.V.E. Broadway! I’ve been very fortunate to see many shows each year and I’m hoping that 2010 will be no different. A couple weeks back my friend Jen invited me to go see RED with her. Her friend and old roomie Holly works for the production company that is producing RED and she offered Jen two free tickets and then Jen invited me to go with her. So T.H.A.N.K.S to both Holly & Jen for the opportunity. I apologize ahead of time that I didn’t get a picture of the marquis so this is going to be a wordy and pictureless post.
Prior to moving back to NYC I was an all musical girl. I grew up watching musicals and I love them. I had seen a few dramatic plays but nothing that really impressed me (except for Death of a Salesman). However, lately I’ve been intrigued by the array of dramatic plays on Broadway and I’m realizing that it’s a different genre of theater that I need to educate myself about.
In RED, Alfred Molina, plays Mark Rothko, an expressionist who has just landed his largest commission to date, a set of murals for New York’s Four Seasons. He hires an apprentice/assistant, Ken, played by Eddie Redmayne. They work together for the next couple of years. Eventually Ken gets the confidence to question Rothko on his decision to accept the commission and whether he’s a “sell out” to the art community and expressionists on a whole for doing so.
The whole play lasts about 90 minutes give or take and is a POWERFUL performance by both actors. You know that a drama is good when you cringe at some of the arguments as if you feel like you’re intruding and then you remember that they’re acting for you the audience. It was incredibly personal and the small theater really makes you forget about everyone around you and makes you feel as if you are a fly on the wall in Rothko’s studio. Their performances of, Ken coming of age in the studio and Rothko’s struggle with what I’m sure many artists struggle with: success vs. staying true to you as an artist, were very real and honest. Can you achieve both in your lifetime? Is it OK to strive to achieve both in your lifetime? Should you care what your professional peers think of you?
I LOVED this show. I was blown away by the story, the caliber of acting, and the use of lighting to make the studio feel different even though the set didn’t change over the course of the 90 minutes. I would definitely recommend this show and I felt that it really solidified my appreciation of non-musical plays on Broadway. I look forward to being introduced to more throughout my time in the city. I hope I can challenge myself to leave my comfort zone every now and again and delve into the meat of Broadway.
Post in Comments:
What is your favorite dramatic play that you’ve seen?
PS – How pumped was I when we watched An Education and Alfred Molina played Jenny’s dad! I love seeing famous, amazing actors live in theater, it truly is such a treat.
