Photo by Hailey Harned.
“There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend… One day the black will swallow the red.”
—Mark Rothko in “Red”
Large paintings with blocks of color, sometimes bright and inviting, sometimes dark and thought provoking. This is the work of the artist Mark Rothko. In the play “Red,” Jeff Wasileski, as Rothko, and Jeremy Burkett, as the painter’s assistant, Ken, bring to the stage these larger-than-life paintings. Opening at Open Stage of Harrisburg on Oct. 7, “Red” offers a unique look inside the world of art. It is also a story of how our expectations shape our lives.
“Red” is a play about Rothko and his assistant in the late ‘50s as they work on a commission for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York. Based on the true story of the biggest commission in modern art’s history, the play takes the audience inside Rothko’s head as he straddles the line between artistry and integrity. Ken, recently hired, first overwhelmed and uncertain in the presence of the artist, eventually grows to challenge the master painter.
“Hopefully, this story will encourage people to realize that these things hanging on the wall aren’t just decoration,” Wasileski said. “They say something important and can touch you on the deepest level if you take the time to look a little more closely.”
Burkett said he enjoyed the challenges and rewards of a cast size of two.
“The intimacy of working with only one other actor in a dramatic performance really opens so many opportunities for interaction,” he said. “The end result is authentic, real and pulls the audience to the edge of their seat wanting to be closer.”
Wasileski concurred.
“You really get to explore the interaction between these two characters and see their relationship develop,” he said.
The play takes place during a time in Rothko’s life when he felt misunderstood, often refusing to explain the meaning behind his pieces. As the play progresses, he is faced with a vast difference between what he hopes to accomplish and how his work is actually perceived.
Rothko’s dilemma is one many of us face in family, work or personal expectations.
“It’s a difficult thing for anyone who invests a big part of themselves into a project to have to admit that it has not lived up to their hopes,” said Wasileski. “The question then is do you compromise your standards and accept the lesser result or do you walk away from it all, including all the work you’ve done.”
The show is about more than the struggles of an artist and his assistant. It’s about the struggle of life—the constant striving for perfection and overcoming the battles within ourselves to do what is, ultimately, best for us regardless of the consequences.
“Red,” the 2010 Tony Award winner for “Best Play,” runs at Open Stage of Harrisburg from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30. Tickets are available at www.openstagehbg.com. Season subscriptions are available. Note: Open Stage recommends that children be at least 12 years old to attend a performance of “Red.”
October Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s
Professional Downtown Theaters
At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
Popcorn Hat Players Present
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Oct. 12 to 29
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets $8
TMI Improv Comedy Show
Oct. 21
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are “Bring Your Own Price.” Any size donation buys your admission.
At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com
“Red”
a drama by John Logan
Oct. 7 to 30
Tickets $21 to $35
Open Call Auditions for
OSHKids Performance Company
Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.
Acting course runs September to May
for youth ages 8 and up, presenting
“Shel-abration: a Theatrical Celebration of Shel Silverstein”
openstagestudioschool.com
Season 31 Subscriptions
on sale now—$120 for 5 plays
Author: Laura Dugan
