One of Rothko's canvasses for his 1958 Four Seasons commission

Marc Rothko is best known as one of the central figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement in American art in the 1950s and '60s. Basically using two colors in any work, for his commission he took his closed boxes and opened the lower edge to create a semblance of doors instead. He completed three different sets of murals before returning the commisssion money and refusing to allow his work to be used in the restaurant. The play deals with the change of heart in the artist regarding the use and display of his work.

Brendan McGrady plays the artist/assistant Ken, eager to fetch coffee, Chinese food and anything else the esteemed artist might need. His delight at this assignment is based on a reverence for the modernist movements in art, though his heart is set on more traditional forms. The 92 minute play in one act is divided into five scenes covering almost two years and it isn't until the middle of scene four that the play catches fire when Ken finally speaks his honest opinions of Rothko and his vision. McGrady, who has been playing with small, finessed expressions up to this point, allows his opinions and his emotions to burst forth into actual fire. It is actually hard to believe that a man like Ken could contain himself for so long, but this moment in the play is certainly justified and the outcome of his outburst provides the much needed drama of interaction.

It is the Rothko played by Peter Langstaff that justifies this change in Ken. Instead of being an angry artist, Langstaff's Rothko is a deeply self-centered man who cannot tolerate anyone else's opinions, feelings or concepts. He is never interactive, just demanding. He never tolerant but only intimidating. If there is an opinion it is his own. If there is a need for contemplation it must be accepted and joined. Langstaff's Rothko is a man who keeps all others at arms length and that satisfies his need for interaction.