Upon entering the theater, we already were greeted by a pondering Bart Guingona, reprising his role as the abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko, smoking while seemingly looking at his art.

His studio filled with pails and canvasses, I thought this is just a story on paintings.

I was proven wrong.

This 90-minute intense piece of theater is based in 1958. It took an interesting turn when Rothko’s assistant Ken played by JC Santos, comes in his studio and in his life, just at the time he had just been commissioned to paint a series of murals for the luxurious Four Seasons restaurant in the Seagram building in New York.

The Bowery studio recreated almost to a tee by Mark Dalacat, was where Rothko and Ken constantly pushes and pulls with conversations. As they create and move canvasses in and out of the studio, they debate about the nature and commerce of art.

We were all taken into a wide spectrum of emotions from calm to vehement scenes, Guingona and Santos even looked at us from time to time, keeping us connected, hooked and involved in the drama.

“The child must banish the father. Respect him, but kill him. ”

Rothko stresses this very line in the play but being a stubborn narcissist, never expected to be the one on the receiving end.

He has this raw fear and denial that he’s irreplaceable and strongly thinks his visceral art should only work his way. He unconsciously begs to be understood and appreciated just as he is.

The moral issue surrounding the Four Seasons as a place for socialites triggers much of Rothko’s conflicts that he constantly fights within himself; he dreaded the thought that to stay relevant, he has to adopt to the sellout attitude.

Ken, on the other hand, is wide-eyed, naïve and aspires to be a known painter just like his master. But he believes that the world of art is ever changing.

He thinks at that moment, pop art no matter how new and different, also genuinely moves people and was slowly banishing abstract expressionism, the very art that Rothko creates and protects.

As the story unravels, it became obvious – Rothko drew the line from the very beginning of their relationship as employer-employee for he doesn’t want to accept that his generation of art is slowly being threatened and swallowed by Ken’s new age.

But this slowly changes as Rothko slowly accepts reality. They talked about their lives, learned from each other, bonded over painting a blank canvas red. Rothko became everything he said he wouldn’t be to Ken – his friend, shrink, teacher and father.

Guingona and Santos embraced their characters so well that we were deeply moved and kept at the edge of our seats.

On the surface, they perfectly portrayed the relationship of a master of art and his apprentice. But the profound message that they have passed on to us is what matter most. That in fact, RED isn’t just about artists and art at all.

RED is about life, human vulnerability, perspective and purpose.

RED is a great reflection of what Rothko said – that art or any creation shouldn’t be just pretty pictures or a sellout, but rather one that that makes us think.

And this outstanding two-hander is greatly relevant in this modern age of technology, social media and short attention span.

It definitely makes us reflect and wonder about everything we create and put out in this world for others to see or consume even if we aren’t artists.

Do we create with passion and commitment? Do we just create for money and sheer physical beauty, or do we create to make others think, feel or ponder about life?

RED definitely challenges and reminds us to be more critical, to look more closely and realize that everything we do paints a picture that can make or break the world we’re living in.

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Don’t miss the last 5 shows of Red by John Logan! Catch it on June 16 ( 8 PM), or on June 17 and 18 (3 PM and 8 PM).

Buy your tickets at https://ticket2me.net/e/37504.

About the Author

Apple Gamboa is the Life Editor of SubSelfie.com.

She is also the Creative Team Lead of Maya, the leading digital financial services provider in the country.

She was previously a Media Relations Manager for Ogilvy Philippines and an interview and field producer for GMA News programs Quick Response Team and News to Go. She was also a producer of lifestyle TV shows and documentaries. Travelling and music are her passion, and taking risks is her reality medicine. Journalism 2010, UST. Read more of her articles here.