Laguna Playhouse Paints the Town 'Red' - Review
Based on the life of Painter Mark Rothko, Laguna Playhouse brings the Tony Award Winning 'Red' to vibrant life.
Passion is splashed across every inch of John Logan’s Tony Award-winning ‘Red’, now playing at Laguna Playhouse. Directed by J. Scott Lapp, this engaging two-person drama examines the complicated relationship between legendary abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and his young assistant, Ken. The result is a production that is both intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
Rob Nagle brings Mark Rothko back to life as the celebrated artist finds himself wrestling with questions of legacy, relevance and the changing art world around him. Nagle captures the artist’s intelligence, but also his stubbornness, insecurity and cantankerous nature. Rothko can be inspiring one moment and infuriating the next; Nagle’s Rothko breathes every contradiction.
As Ken, James Hayden Rodriguez provides the perfect counterbalance. What begins as a straightforward mentor-apprentice relationship gradually evolves into something far more layered. Ken arrives eager to learn, willing to absorb every lesson Rothko offers, even if only as a paid employee, who’s opinion means little-to-nothing. Over the course of the play’s two-year timeline, he develops the confidence to challenge the very man he admires. Rodriguez charts that growth beautifully, giving Ken the ability to transition from quite admiration and curiosity to a quiet determination that eventually demands to be heard.
The chemistry between Nagle and Rodriguez is raw, passionate. Their scenes together hold the audience enamored as Rothko’s mood shift faster than the wind. Rothko lectures more than discusses art, culture, purpose and mortality, but beneath every diatribe is a growing understanding between two people from different generations trying to make sense of the world around them.
Lapp wisely allows Logan’s words and the actors’ performances to remain at the center of the production, but the technical team deserves enormous credit for creating the environment of the dimly lit, New York art studio.
Scenic designer Stephen Gifford transforms the stage into a working artist’s studio, complete with creative chaos that fuels the story. Props designer Kevin Williams fills that space with every artistic material, including a record player that make every moment authentic. The physical act of painting becomes an important dance within the story embracing every brush stroke. Laguna Playhouse estimates that at least 30 canvases will be painted over the course of the production’s run, a remarkable detail that underscores the immersive nature of the experience.
Jared Sayeg’s lighting design is magnificent. Beyond illuminating the action, the lighting creates dramatic shadows that linger around the characters like phantoms. The interplay of light and darkness becomes a visual extension of Rothko’s own artistic struggles, creating moments that are at once beautiful, haunting and deeply emotional. Combined with Ian Scot’s subtle sound design, the production achieves an atmosphere that fis hypnotic.
Costume designer Dianne Graebner grounds the characters firmly within their era while defining their personalities and social statuses. Every design element harmoniously works, like a military phalanx.
Special recognition belongs to stage manager Kyrsten Goodrich. This is possibly the seventh production I have seen with Goodrich serving as stage manager, and I have yet to see any other production run as smoothly as those under her stewardship. Every cue, transition and technical moment unfolds seamlessly, forcing audiences to remain fully immersed in the story. Her work often goes unnoticed because it appears effortless, but that precision is a testament to exceptional skill. If Goodrich ever decides to take on a protégé the way Ken apprentices under Rothko, whoever has that opportunity to learn from her will be the lucky one.
Laguna Playhouse’s production embraces all of those themes of intelligence, passion and remarkable craftsmanship. Anchored by outstanding performances from Nagle and Rodriguez, it is a deeply satisfying evening of theatre.
‘Red’ is a play about artistic passion, the burden of legacy and the difficult process of passing knowledge from one generation to the next.
‘Red’ runs from now through June 28, 2026, at the Laguna Playhouse.
To purchase tickets for ‘Red’ at Laguna Playhouse visit: lagunaplayhouse.com or call the box office at: +1-949-497-2787.
Laguna Playhouse is located at:
606 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️