Kevin Roberge as Rothko and Austin Larkin as Ken

“Red,” an arousing drama written by John Logan, has traveled from warehouse to warehouse with a 2010 stint on Broadway, long enough to garner a coveted Tony Award. Now, five years after its premiere at the Donmar Warehouse stage in London, “Red” opened Thursday night at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius, giving the audience an exhilarating study of art appreciation stimulated by the emotions and intellect of the human psyche.

Master and assistant dominate the stage, or more accurately, the Bowery studio in Manhattan of famed abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. The story line of “Red” is real. It’s 1958 and Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for the famed Four Seasons Restaurant in New York.

Mark Rothko, skillfully portrayed by Charlotte/Lake Norman’s renown-actor Kevin Roberge, decides to hire an assistant to perform whatever task is at his whim—to fetch anything from take-out lunches or wash brushes, mix paints, build frames, prime canvasses, and even select recorded music.

Austin Larkin plays Rothko’s youthful assistant, Ken. Young though he may be, Larkin is no stranger to area stages, nor is his penchant to support performing arts in the region. A couple of years ago Larkin gave a stellar performance as Matt in “The Fantasticks” at The Warehouse and now has established the Alan Larkin Young Producer Scholarship. “Red,” Larkin’s favorite play, is his premiere production.

“Red” actually is close to Larkin’s artistic heart, having portrayed a part of the play for his entrance exam to Elon University where he studies acting. The young producer knew exactly what he wanted. Larkin approached Melissa Olhman-Roberge to direct the show, having become acquainted with her skill when she directed him in the Davidson Community Players’ production of “Baby” in which Kevin Roberge also played a part.

The talented, dedicated trio is a treasure chest. Melissa’s discerning eye doesn’t miss a trick. The studio is intact with everything from an array of canvasses in progress, to paints, color mixes, the tools to build a canvass frame and even running water. Assisted by stage manager Michael Barnett, K C Roberge and Lisa Altieri, Melissa creates timely changes of lights and sound that allow Rothko to unravel his philosophical thoughts and challenge those of his assistant while attempting to paint.

Expertly, Melissa inveigles every nuance of the self-indulgent character her husband, Kevin, portrays. Rothko, who takes pride in having stomped Cubism along with his contemporaries, rants at the incompetence of the public’s critical eye, rages at Ken’s perceived naiveté, while circumventing the insecurity of his own talent. “There’s tragedy in every brushstroke,” Rothko tells Ken…his greatest fear that one day “black will swallow red.”

Initially observant and timid, after two years of working together, Ken gains enough confidence to challenge the master. Larkin blithely moves about the stage as Ken, continually performing tasks while provoking Rothko to face his demons. “Who is good enough to look at your pictures,” he finally asks, affirming the possibility that black will swallow red. Austin Larkin is a joy to watch.

The audience is in for its own intellectual challenge. The strong drama unveils a raw dissertation of controversial ideas juxtaposed by a litany of art history enumerating its master painters to the recognition of the insecure undertones and vulnerability of a dedicated artist.

Then, to top it all off, there is Marla Brown, managing director of The Warehouse Performing Arts Center. Her talent is not only to inter space the production of comedy with original work and strong drama on The Warehouse stage, but to enable young actors such as Larkin to exercise their theatrical creativity. Bravo!

“Red” may be seen Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm through August 23 at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center at 9216-A Westmorland Road, Cornelius. For reservations call the box office at 704-619-0429 or online at www.warehousepac.com.