The Mercy Seat (play)
Neil LaBute | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Playwright, director, screenwriter |
| Known for | The Mercy Seat |
The Mercy Seat is a theatrical work by Neil LaBute from 2002, recognized as one of the earliest significant dramatic interpretations addressing the September 11, 2001 attacks. The narrative takes place on September 12 and centers on Ben, an employee of the World Trade Center who was absent during the disaster. Alongside his lover and superior, Abby, Ben grapples with the belief that his family assumes he perished in the collapse. He contemplates exploiting the catastrophe to vanish and begin a new life with Abby.
Inspiration
LaBute conceived the play following the cancellation of his flight from Chicago to New York City after 9/11, which resulted in a 21-hour train journey. This unexpected hardship led him to ponder his mixed emotions, ultimately inspiring the creation of the play.
New York
The Mercy Seat debuted Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre under an MCC Theater production on December 18, 2002, concluding on January 15, 2003. LaBute directed the production, which featured performances by Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver. The show achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim, with all performances selling out.
The demanding emotional nature of the play posed significant challenges for its principal actors. Weaver described the experience as taxing but also characterized it as "shocking," "funny," and "necessary." Schreiber, stepping into the role of Ben after Aaron Eckhart, found the character’s ethical complexity profoundly impactful.
London
In November 2003, The Mercy Seat was staged at the Almeida Theatre, directed by Michael Attenborough, with Sinead Cusack and John Hannah leading the cast.
Lima
June 2008 saw a production of The Mercy Seat in Lima, Perú, presented under the title Misericordia, starring Mónica Sánchez and Gonzalo Molina.
Rio de Janeiro
Late in 2015, the play was performed in Portuguese as Marco Zero at Caixa Cultural Theatre. This version was directed by Ivan Sugahara and starred Letícia Isnard alongside Tárik Puggina.
Critical response
According to TheatreMania, although not LaBute’s most intense piece, this uninterrupted 100-minute play portrays its characters as exceptionally human.