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PATCH Event Review - Powerfully Philosophical & Psychological... ICT's Production of 6-Tony Winner RED is Terrific!

ICT's Production of 6-Tony Winner RED is Terrific!


By: Joseph Sirota                                           





The play RED is more than impressive.
It was very well received in its London
Theater, U.K.
opening, then followed on Broadway with a snazzy 6-Broadway Tonys + 2Drama
League Awards. Playwright John Logan, (who, by the way is also an admirable
film screenwriter as well) is praised by both audiences, and actors. We enjoy
his powerful ability to create dialog that hits us with insight, feeling and lingering
impact (more than our money's worth). The actors get the gift of working with
dialog and fine character development. If they can capture/send it, they truly
win audience hurrahs and caring. The key to productions of this level of live
theater is: EVERYBODY MUST BE WISE
& SHARP ENOUGH
to handle Logan's "not for amateurs" complex
intensity
. Happily, both actors: Tony Abatemarco, and Patrick Stafford,
and Director/Producer caryn desai each bring us exactly the inner sensitivity,
understanding, and intensity to deliver Logan.
In 90 minutes-No Stops, we see/learn it all !

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As
for RED's storyline, by writer Logan, it's a superb (semi-historical)
"inner-probing" of Mark Rothko, lauded, but aging Artist. Rothko was
intensely set in his strict Life Views. His newly hired, young art-assistant, Ken,
is quite likable, but just starting to spread his own wings on life and art values.
Should WE measure LIFE by
Money, a Home, Success? Or Is Health, Many Kind Friends, and Having Love/Warmth
at home even if just a modest little-known life. This question is splendidly
captured by writer, actors, director/producer, and crew. The saga centers on Mark
Rothko
a real Russian artist. In mid 20th century, cataloged as Abstract
Expressionist Painter, Rothko also deemed himself a Teacher Philosopher/
Psychologist/Creator/Guru. The 2nd character is 21 year-old art student Ken (a
combo of Rothko's past studio assistants). It's a bleak studio in 1958 beatnik years,
as Rothko cares only for huge canvas space, great Red color creating, and
classical symphonies on a little record player. Each man had harsh early
childhoods. Rothko and poor mother escaped Czarist Russia in 1913 to work at 10.
Ken, at 7, found both his parents knifed dead by thieves who took everything--so,
foster homes ahead. Rothko gives Ken steel-hard rules of how
artists must focus only on new creativity. Push aside older creators, even if
friends! Rothko himself is aging, so the characters, and we
both
feel Rothko may soon be pushed aside by his own tough rule. Rothko also faces a key
turning-point, a call to paint huge murals for a new, fancy, Four-Seasons
5-Star Restaurant (his biggest fee..a true event). Writer Logan didn't invent it; but he recognized the
way rules/age/chance can hurt.



Ken's
years of studio workdays also is bombarded by Rothko's self-chosen unique art spirit
focusing on painting colors that resonate LIVING Energies within them. His RED
colors captivate people (wise enough, -- he sez) to let in the endless
shades of his beloved REDS. Rothko insists his "New HOT
RED Mixtures
" must bury old creators no matter whom". Oddly, he does
admit he's frightened by one part of paint colors because He's deeply afraid
of the color black paint mixing.
Both Rothko and Ken agree that black paint
can cover RED forever, other colors, (including life energy Reds,
symbolic of our life's blood and our heart's symbol of life(love?). Logan's
dialog between characters, hits us powerfully; if Reds' powers, can taken away
by sorrow or age, but also by final Black Paint, is it yet another signal that
Rothko's apex is near over, with the Huge Four Season contract, just a sad
finale for a briefly great Artist.. All this may seem strange or silly. But
quality dialog, cast and director (and fine staging) make it remarkably
captivating, and worth pondering. You don't win 6 Tony's & 2Drama League Awards
easily.

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The always magical ICT Scenic, Sound, Lighting,
Costumes-Team did a cleverly effective job. Live Huge Canvas Setting/Priming
was a Wow.



Tony Abatemarco, as Rothko couldn't be more
moving and believable as he "becomes" a gifted true artistic genius.
He "is" the true guru, but a bellowing Guru, on an island in his own life.
Recognition in art? Yes! and soon a high society contract for murals amidst the
elite's fine dining. Abatemarco adroitly as Rothko became
ever more intensely trapped by his own "unbendable life rules"--touchingly
sad. The fast, complex,  furious intent
in Logan's fine dialogs are well handled and brought to life by Abatemarco,
as if he was, at the very least, a lifetime Rothko pal.



Patrick Stafford as Ken, the new young
studio assistant not only manages to tolerate Rothko's wild Guru musts,
he does a splendid job of delivering a wide, memorable performance-arc. At first Ken's afraid to argue or even try
hard to be a friend of half genius/half nutty Rothko. Ken, must, initially be
fragile and hold back his personal inner thoughts, (though he shows us glimpses
of wit and humanity). By play's end, though there's no crying or hugging ala Dad/Son,
they very well can have reached each other as old/young blood-brothers,,,
that's A-1 acting.



caryn desai has long been a highly
versatile, effective Director/Producer in Southern
California live theater. She is able to handle tragedies,
comedies, musicals, etc., each, with aplomb. But, playwright Logan's RED is, in my opinion, the
very best "fit", of the kind of play that is caryn's coup de gras. Logan's and caryn's
finest moments are reaching deeply, insightfully, and understandingly the "inner"
drives in each  character (what makes
them tick, or not able to tick!) In laughter or tears. Logan and caryn are darn fine at such theater.
My conclusion-- Go see RED!

=>Red
Multiple Tony Winner Captivates the audience with a Powerfully Moving
Production at ICT, International City Theatre, 300 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach
CA.  Schedule: Thurs-thru-Saturdays @ 8:pm,
& Sunday Matinees @ 2:pm. Tickets: $38-$45 Closes Sept 15.
 For Tkts, Info, Call: (562) 436-4610.  For
Internet:  www.InternationalCityTheatre.com





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