"Red...."

Red Fan Reviews: 21/03/2012, Cleveland

Author: Annievvv
Translator: Rnewfans2011, Jessica, Tracy
Posted: May 6 2012

Source: imdb imdb

Part 1: Arriving at Cleveland
Part 2: Costume and general impression of RED
Part 3: Details and analysis of scenes
Part 4: In summary
Part 5: The denouement of the play
Part 6: After the show

Part 1: Arriving at Cleveland

From the beginning of this year I knew that I would have an opportunity to go to New York, but I made final trip schedule only when the performance schedule of ‘Red Cleveland tour’ was announced. Because I was so much looking forward to see Red. I cannot even describe how excited I was when booking tickets and paying for visa.

It took me 14 hours flying from Shanghai to New York, 4 hours transfer/waiting time in JFK and then 2 hours flying from New York to Cleveland. Thus it cost me totally 20 hours when arriving at Cleveland. I had flu and felt very dizzy before arriving, but the beautiful weather of Cleveland soon cured me. At 6:30am, after breakfast in hotel, I walked down the street without even checking city map, but soon I realized that I was already in front of Allen Theatre CPH. Wow.

I think I am very fortunate that Red is the first Randy’s live performance I see. Let me explain why. The whole show is entirely supported by actors’ two-hander play, depending completely on actors’ performance skill and strength; audiences can enjoy and appreciate their performances calmly and objectively, without being disturbed by storyline of the play. Moreover, I like both the prototype person and the playwright very much. Mark Rothko is a famous leader of the Abstract expressionism (New York school), whose story is full of artists’ fatalism sense; John Logan is one of my favorite screen writers, his Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Rango and Hugo describe persons who are so different from normal majority. Especially the metaphor in Rango is obviously influenced by Beckett. (Note: The author Annievvv is a Beckett fan too) Of course such storyline and playwright attract me. Not to mention that it will be demonstrated by Randy. As a young artist, probably Randy is or was facing the problem Ken faces too. Moreover, Randy used to play a talented painter Justin Taylor. What a coincidence.

To understand this show better, I studied the whole script in library before flying to USA. And there was a 1.5-hour-‘Pre Show’ happened 45 minutes before the play: A synopsis presentation given by CPH staff. I arrived there very early and then found out most participants were old ladies and gentlemen who participated in active discussion with great enthusiasm. I guessed they were from local culture circle, because all were well mannered with very high art appreciation taste.

March 21 might be a ‘media reception day’ because it was a very hilarious day. In the hall there were so many guests (a lot of them must from Cleveland culture circle) who wore very formal dress and suit and chatted happily. And it was a full house day; about the audience, less than 20 persons were under 40 years old and only one Asian there – me. Half of the audiences were grey hair ladies and gentlemen. I suddenly felt guilty because my dress was too casual. Actually I did prepare black evening dress and evening handbag but I thought only need to use them in Broadway… I guess 4 or 5 young audiences were Randy’s fans too who were coming to see him because of their clothes style; most of others were coming for the drama itself. I felt a little lonely and isolated but I also felt very happy and proud for Randy’s choice, nowadays he is really a wonderful theatre actor appearing in front of me. That day my seat was 219, row 7 but not row 2, most expensive seat and best perspective to watch the show, a little right-center. It was so fortunate because during the whole show Randy were mostly performing on the right part of the stage so I could see him clearly.

Part 2: Costume and general impression

Let’s talk about costume first. In Act I Randy wears formal suit, tie, white shirt, suspenders (high-waisted pants), and black dress shoes; in all other scenes he wears in very casual style, 3 kinds of jacket: white T-shirt, coat, plaid shirt; same jeans and same shoes in every scene besides Act I. When paying his first visit to Rothko, Ken is very nervous and cautious. Rothko scolds him that an artist should not dress like this, so Ken removes his jacket to start work. I feel it is a little unnatural for Randy in formal suit but he looks perfect in T-shirt and jeans; because his arm and chest are very muscular now which suits T-shirt and jeans best.

Well, now we move to art after discussing muscle :-). There are many professional words in actor's lines, including Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Pollock, Matisse, Nietzsche, etc; totally there should be around 30% of lines are related to art field, I am glad I did preview otherwise I would be very possible to get confused. In Act I, the young guy Ken/Randy has very few lines, only a few ‘Yes’ and a little joke with Rothko. In Act II, Rothko continues to speak most lines while Ken/Randy performs mostly by applying his body language skills. In Act III and IV Randy has much more lines and aggressive two-hander plays with Bob Ari. I realize immediately that his voice is more magnetic, deep and low instead of clear as usual. I wonder if he gets flu, or the busy performance schedule makes his voice hoarse? In recent TV interview, his voice does change, I confirm.

In my opinion, stage actors should be categorized as artists - performance artists. Randy has very good status; he is not that kind of exaggerating type actor, but more natural style. He performs more like in daily life but not ‘stage exaggeration’. It is not very common in stage actor circle, I don’t know whether it is because of his TV acting experience – he prefers to use a lot of details to demonstrate Ken’s character and background. There are only two roles in script, Rothko is a more ‘fixed’ role who has very strong and aggressive character and most of his actions and movements are designed and described clearly in script, step by step: pacing slowly, etc. Bob Ari has wonderful lines skills and body language, perfectly explaining Rothko on stage; About Ken who played by Randy, it is different. This role’s background, character and status are more vague compared to Rothko; however, this might provide Randy more opportunities and flexibilities to introduce his own style.

Part 3: Details and analysis of scenes

Analyzing following scenes:

1) Scenes of daily lives in studio. When Rothko expressing his art idea, Ken usually busies himself on doing some ordinary works: stretching canvas, mopping studio, scrubbing floor on his knees, washing paintbrush, eating Chinese takeaway, etc. Ken repeats such works everyday in two years and Randy demonstrates them smoothly and naturally, as he is really an assistant. Simultaneously he needs to show some simple aesthetic body language in front of audiences. His way of eating Chinese food reminds me of scene of QAF, similar paper food box and Randy’s unique way of wolfing down all the food. In this March 21 scene, one of noodles nearly flies out and he manages to get it back (haha). Rothko/Bob only eats once and other times he is ‘making pose of eating’, while Randy indeed eats many times and nearly finishes all the food, it seems very natural and authentic. There is a Chinese restaurant nearby so I guess they purchase the takeaway from there. Well if he eats everyday likes this way…he does have pretty good performance skill.

(BTW, Q&A between Tracy and Annievvv)

Tracy: How do you think of Randy and Bob’s performance skill?

Annievvv: As Randy’s fan, I don’t think I have the qualification to make any comment on him because I cannot be totally objective and impartial. And it is very normal for actors to have their own performance styles in play. But for Bob, I can give very objective comments. He is an excellent and experienced actor, strong lines background, and impressive power to influence everyone. However, Randy is excellent too, their stage power can match each other and no one is overwhelmed by another. For Randy, especially from Act III, he is gradually bringing his best into play, showing his skills, a kind of ‘suppressing before shining and exerting’. )

Additionally, the scene of stretching canvas, he squats on the ground, fixing the four corners of the canvas to the frame, which is very skillful and I guess he practices many times beforehand. So do mopping floor and washing paintbrush. What a skillful assistant. Haha.

2) Scene of Ken talking with friend by phone before Rothko coming back. This scene looks like the QAF scene Justin talking to Daph, same posture and tone.

3) When narrating Ken’s tragic memory that his parents were murdered, Ken has an action of rubbing eyes by both hands, which is very typical ‘Randy style’. I guess everyone knows what kind of action it is (Tracy: Is it the action in QAF season 3 blooper?) I have to explain clearly here about this plot. To be honest, at first I thought: ‘Well, as I imagined already, a Hollywood screenwriter will always, always, always make such story, the leading role must be a poor orphan to gain sympathy from audiences. What a conventional Hollywood plot. When performing such scene, I wish actor wouldn’t overact himself to make it too ‘Hollywood’.’ However, Randy does surprise me very much and I have to give highest praise on his lines skill. He has fantastic lines background. Ken explains to Rothko that why red scares him that much. He begins to recall his childhood, when finding out parents were murdered, whole carpet was full of blood, snow falling outside, and then waking up his younger sister…The sense of narrative rhythm is mastered perfectly. His whole status, tone and expression lead people into the world naturally, as you were there watching and experiencing the whole circumstance. You will naturally hold breath to totally concentrate on listening to him. I remembered the whole house was extremely silent. When finishing the narrative, he was as pure as a kid, sad but not exaggerating, no one could hold the desire to sigh deeply.

4) At last, Rothko gets his Seagram Murals back from the Four Seasons restaurant and returns the remuneration. Then he is so depressed, slumping in a chair with his hands full of red paint. Ken enters the studio and gets frightened because he thinks Rothko suicides. When realizing the truth, he washes the paint for Rothko, treating him as a son to his father. That scene is very moving.

5) The most exciting scene is in Act III and I guess everyone knows what I mean, the ‘Red paint dancing’ in the trailer. Two actors are there, waving brushes, accompanied by symphony, making an excellent red painting. That scene makes audiences fully excited and thrilled; the only thing I can say is to admire actors’ talent and physical strength. They have to finish the painting in so short time, it is very exhausted and difficult and they need to do such work everyday. I have seen the videotape of another version of Red and I like this Randy/Bob version more. Randy and Bob have better cooperation, switching positions to paint, forward and backward, it is difficult but they two perform it as dancing. I can imagine their feeling of being both opponents and cooperators; it must be an unforgettable experience for actors to ‘paint such a work everyday’. Each time at the end of this scene, Ken will be very tired so he will fall to the ground. But this March 21 scene is a little different from the trailer. Randy falls onto the floor, lying on his back with heavy breathing. There is a towel under his waist and he is too tired to get it out. He tries many times and finally gets it out. Very ‘authentic’ and so close to real life. The series of movements raise a burst of applause from audiences.

Part 4: In summary

Overall, Ken is a growing boy, from an assistant who only follows Rothko’s instruction and orders to a mature young man who can think independently. Gradually he begins to directly face and question Rothko’s art concepts and speaks out his own opinion. Randy performs this growing period very naturally and smoothly and there is one thing I must mention here. Compared with the English version Ken, Randy’s version is not that kind of ‘naïve and silly’ boy even from beginning. Whom he illustrates is a boy full of thoughts but just covers his strong character during Act I and Act II. I think Randy makes correct judgment because according to the script, even from Act I Ken already dares to make a joke on Pollock with Rothko. (Rothko in public eyes is not as famous as Pollock, when being asked which painter he appreciates most, Ken answers ‘Pollock’.) Rothko is a narcissistic artist full of mystery and tragedy while Ken represents a young generation who is even younger than Andy Warhol. This young generation would like to apply new and modern painting way (even cartoon) to express themselves with still hard-working. (Well this reminds me of Justin again) When demonstrating Ken, Randy introduces more of his personal style, more mature, capable and confident; at last, even aggressive. However, even in the most aggressive scene that Ken and Rothko arguing like boxing, none of them use exaggerate body language and performance style. Each of them applies their own stage power and lines skills freely. It is amazing.

When standing on stage, Randy is shining there – not as sun but more as moon which reflects stage lights and then shines gently and warmly. Compared to the QAF Justin who tore roses and raged at Jennifer Taylor for her action against Brian&Justin being together, nowadays Randy grasps how to perform naturally; he can accumulate strength to a certain degree and then breaks out at one point. This really impresses audiences deeply.

In a word, clear, very clear performance strength. A lot of actors cannot keep relaxed status so they have too many unnecessary actions to make the show ‘impure’. But Randy gets rid of such habits already. Actually when playing in QAF he can already enters the role easily in very relaxed status, thus people always regard him as the 18-year-old Justin. I think he is gifted on this aspect. I recall that in a radio interview, Bob comments on Randy ‘pure actor;just dealing with the truth, telling the truth.’ Perhaps just such pure makes him absorbing positive energy and be so charming.

Well if he was commented as ’sunshine’ in QAF, now I would like to describe him as ‘jade’. Natural and pure.

Part 5: The denouement of the play

In fact I think the denouement of this drama is a little bit weak, because the climax parts (Jessica: Is climax the correct word? Or should I use the word ‘catastrophe’? Refers to the best and the most representative part of a play) are demonstrated totally within Act III and Act IV. At last, Rothko tells Ken to leave to create his own future; well it seems a little ‘Hollywood model’. In reality, Rothko committed suicide in his studio and was found by his assistant. I wonder if it can be more shocked to compose the script according to the fact but it will be too cruel and tragic. We have to admit: Reality is often more dramatic. No matter Pollock or Rothko or someone else, true artists are always painful because they are tied by commercial world.

One paragraph of the lines impresses me deeply: ‘When we were young, art exist isolately, no galleries, no collection, no comments, no money. We don’t have a mentor. We don’t have parents. We are alone. We have nothing but the pursuit of future and dreams.’ Rothko regards red as artistic passion and black as death. He is afraid that one day black will engulf red.

In reality, no matter which era, each real artist is tied up, suffering from all kinds of pains. What tied them? Previously it was religion, politics or imperial power; in nowadays, it is commercial rule. Real artists have same destiny, full of loneliness and pain. To become successful, Rothko had to hide his Jewish identity by changing his name according to his agent’s suggestion. From this sense, he is an orphan as Ken. Artists are all so lonely. Thus I guess Randy might have deeper understanding and more thoughts about this play.

Additionally, as a fictional role, Ken’s identity and background is not that clear, it seems that he and his sister have been adopted by many families from the day his parents were murdered. He doesn’t have his own family and his sister has married to an accountant already. (I guess the screenwriter implies here that his sister enters the majority life.) About Ken, audiences only know that he has a talkative friend who can often have phonecall to chat with; he likes Chinese food and Chat Baker’s jazz. In the play he questions Rothko: For two years you don’t know me at all. Whether I am married or in love, or if I am a queer, you know nothing about me. This story happens in 1950s, so it is very bold to say that. Thus judging by my logic, Ken is a queer. Haha. I am kidding.

About the final curtain call, both actor were shy and modest, bowing three times and then walked off the stage. I felt a little disappointed for audiences didn’t applause for long time to ask them back to stage again. In fact the drama itself discusses serious topic but the lines are full of self-deprecation which cause people to laugh from bottom of their hearts. Eg. The similarity between abstract expressionism paintings and a 5-year-old children’s drawing. Also I think Randy will remind a lot of old ladies of their own sons.----

Part 6: After the show

I haven’t imagined that Allen Theatre is a very classical theater, with classical chandelier on the ceiling and many murals inside. All ticket inspectors and ushers are in bright red suits, very special.

After the show I stayed quietly on a bus stop and a Starbucks which are opposite to the theatre, looking at the entrance of theatre. I thought since some other fans were also waiting there, I could probably take a photo too when they talking to Randy. I am a shy girl. I kept waiting there for long time until all other fans left and the theatre door was locked. The whole theatre area was almost empty that time. I was the last one waiting there quietly. It took me 20 hours to arrive Cleveland and it was not that easy to cross the Pacific Ocean.

At last I saw three people walked out of the theatre from the side door and Randy was the last one, wearing a light blue shirt and dark pants, with a dark shoulders bag and some stuff in hands. I knew that actors always leave as the last ones since they need to get some rest, freshen themselves up and change clothes. Then they walked to a restaurant nearby which was still opened. The CPH PR manager Lisa Craig gave them a cordial hospitality there. I thought for one minute that if I could enter the restaurant too because I didn’t have dinner either. Probably I could just sit somewhere in restaurant and order something too. But then I made final decision to leave silently and just had a look at him again from the far away bus stop before leaving. I told myself that this should be the way he likes. I guess as a stage actor, he cares how much audiences love his performance but nothing else. I also guess when looking at every audience’s face, he must be happy because they are fully captivated and attracted by his performance, no stalker, no flower, no request of signature and photo.

Then I went back to hotel without dinner because I didn’t have many hours to sleep. I had to get up very early around 4pm to package luggage and then leave hotel to go to railway station, and then a 15-hour-train trip to back to New York. In MOMA, I saw Rothko’s paintings which are were hung together with Picasso, Dali and Andy Warhol whom he never appreciated. About Seagram murals which he was proud of, half in Washington National Gallery while another half in an art gallery in Chiba, Japan. Fortunately it is not in the Four Seasons.

On March 24th, after visiting Statue of Liberty, I went to see Wicked in Broadway. It is fabulous. The stage designing is extremely good and actors have wonderful singing skills. It cost me 300 dollars for a good seat on second floor but totally worth. I paid extra attention to the role Bob. Therefore I should say I appreciate Randy’s choice of performing such ideological and artistic dramas, living his own style.

 

Note:

If there is some ridiculous expression in this article, it is totally because of my poor English, the original review article is very good.