Reviewed by Fran Edwards
April 2011
I should start this review by stating I had never heard of Mark Rothko and I am not a fan of his style of art, however this play by John Logan, is well written and for the most part engaging.
As a study of a painter known for his passion it certainly gives insight into the complexity of the man and his relationships. It is slow to get started and maybe not easily accessible to those unfamiliar with the world of the artist.
As Rothko, David Roach gave one of his best performances, but his hesitancy with lines at times reduced the conviction of his character. Paul-William Mawhinney is well cast as his assistant and demonstrates development from the eager, naive student to the more confident and independent assistant.
On a technical note the large canvases needed for the set were well handled and the set, by David Roach, as a whole worked very well. This was enhanced by the careful lighting, by Matthew Marciniak, which complemented the atmosphere created by director Rob Croser.
This was a strong play, well presented and up to Independent's usual standard, but for me there was something missing, perhaps because I did not connect with the subject matter or perhaps because the lead character's passion did not convince me.
