REVIEW: Red, Edinburgh University Theatre Company, Bedlam Theatre Edinburgh ★★★★

What is Red? What is Black? What is light in between? Messy at times (expect a lot of paint), unashamedly obsessive, Red superbly pronounces itself to be the only colour Rothko can’t outrun.

Mark Rothko, the seminal Latvian-born American artist, takes on a young assistant while painting commissioned murals. The two are locked in a room in an attempt to convince each other that artistic guerrilla warfare is possible even if the hefty check has been cut.

Red is a terrific two hander that must be witnessed. Rufus Goodman is magnetic as Rothko, matched by a charming, bumbling turn from Dylan Kaeuper as his assistant. 

Rothko’s whole life is a debate about the sell-out. Do you relinquish your legacy to the Four Seasons Hotel, a room where the capitalists eat, just to solidify yourself in New York City? In the artistic canon? Can the two ever really be reconciled?

Goodman’s endurance is staggering. His Rothko is a born contrarian and he carries the whole evening with a command that never wavers, from thunderous rage to quiet, aching vulnerability. Goodman earnestly straddles Rothko’s suicidal tendencies whilst actively being an isolationist who rejects every ideology. Kaeuper brings youthful warmth and comic timing that keeps the heaviness breathing. Director Theodore Casimir-Lambert handles Red’s complexity with confidence and careful pacing.

Tanya Molleson delivers a truly alive set: droplets fall from the cleaning rag, canvases move “to me, to you” across the stage, and the space is used brilliantly throughout. The standout is the live painting scene, a blank canvas engulfed in red, runny paint as the performers enter flow state. Red is visceral, thrilling, and unforgettable. Dorian Toms’ technical design is awe-inspiring, from the diegetic spin of the rotary phone; the shutter of the lights; the knocking of the hammer; and the scratching of the vinyl. Rothko’s control extends to light itself, the studio kept dim so each canvas stays subjective. You are wholeheartedly transported to 1950s NYC, sheltered creative man-cave yet yearning for a glimmer of sunlight.

Red is a gripping, beautifully crafted production, diligently navigating the dilemma of every artist striving for timeless when you can only make for the moment.

Recommended Drink: A nice glass of Port.

Performances of Red have now concluded at Bedlam Theatre Edinburgh.