On Theater: Strap yourself in for a gripping ‘Red’

History and imagination are on a collision course at South Coast Repertory, where John Logan’s mesmerizing “Red” is giving audiences a spellbinding lesson in the style and substance of art.

Set in 1958 and 1959 in the cavernous studio of celebrated painter Mark Rothko, and robustly directed by SCR co-founder David Emmes, “Red” encompasses about three years in the life of the wildly eccentric Rothko, who would die by his own hand a decade later.

While the dialogue and references in this 90-minute, two-character exercise often may escape the playgoer, the dramatic relationship between famed artist and eager acolyte throbs with visceral impact. Theirs is a surreal world, unlikely to register with most viewers, yet Logan’s work demands attention.

The play covers a period in the late ‘50s during which Rothko was working on a lucrative commission to create murals for New York’s new Four Seasons restaurant. He hired a young art student barely out of his teens as his assistant, and their interaction is the life blood of “Red.”

Veteran SCR actor Mark Harelik does most of the heavy lifting here as the verbose and wildly egocentric Rothko, and his work is outstanding, despite an apparent hoarseness that vainly attempts to stifle his roaring monologues. Fans of TV’s recently shelved “Getting On” will be hard-pressed to recognize the studly doctor from that show.

Paul David Story as Ken, the young assistant, regulates his performance from naive admirer at the outset to eventual fierce challenger of Rothko’s wrath. His fevered outburst near the end of the play matches the force of Harelik’s blustery prose. Whether or not his character is rooted in fact is unknown, but his recollection of the murder of his parents when he was 7 — hardly integral to the core of “Red” — suggests that he also is based in reality.

The play’s only weakness is its climax, or lack of same. Decisions are made in the final minutes that seem to run counter to established characterizations, whether or not they are true to history.

The actors, though highly accomplished, are virtually dwarfed by Ralph Funicello’s monstrously large, converted gymnasium setting — higher, wider and deeper than most SCR backdrops. Fred Kinney’s grubby working-artist costumes and Tom Ruzika’s low-key lighting design contribute greatly to the overall effect.

“Red” is a 90-minute roller coaster ride on a largely unfamiliar track that may find playgoers gripping their arm rests a bit tightly. It’s fuel for both the head and heart at South Coast Repertory.

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TOM TITUS reviews local theater.

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IF YOU GO

What: “Red”

Where: South Coast Repertory’s Segerstrom Stage, 655 S. Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

When: Tuesdays through Sundays at varying curtain times until Feb. 21

Cost: $22 to $77

Information: (714) 708-5555