thought the play a bit wordy, though when I saw a clip of the off-B'way production I felt like maybe it was meant more to be read than watched -- there were several quite lyrical passages, a la Nathaniel West or such...
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/dec/07/artsfeatures

"Red" is, in many ways, a typical high-society play; two characters (Mark Rothko and his assistant) have spirited discussions about art and commerce. It is very short. Anyone familiar with the lifespan and ethos of abstract expressionism will not learn much about the history of the period, but it certainly serves an educational purpose for those who don't. In lieu of character conflict and plot development, the play tends to revolve around long-winded speeches about art. This is a good play and it is engaging and thought-provoking throughout, but it feels as though it has been trimmed and edited to accommodate. Intellectual pretensions tend to take precedence over a desire to explore a comprehensive portrait of either Rothko or the relationship between master and apprentice. ( )